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Daniel and Revelation Committee Series

Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Volume 4 Volume 5 Volume 6 Volume 7 Selected Studies on Prophetic Interpretation Symposium on Daniel The Seventy Weeks, Leviticus, and the Nature of Prophecy Issues in the Book of Revelation Doctrine of the Sanctuary: !istorical Survey "#$%&'#$()* Sy+posiu+ on Revelation, Book # Sy+posiu+ on Revelation, Book ,

DANIEL AND REVELATION COMMITTEE SERIES Volume 6

Symposium on Revelation
Introductory and E e!etical Studies "oo# l
Editor Frank B.Holbrook

Biblical Research Institute General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Silver S rin!" #$ %&'&(

) "" y *+, -

Copyri!$t - .''% by t$e "i%lical Researc$ Institute .%+&. Old Colum%ia &i#e Silver Sprin!' MD %&'&(

Ac#no(led!ements
Scri tures 1uoted fro2 5EB are fro2 The New English Bible., co yri!ht - 4he $ele!ates of the 67ford /niversity 8ress and the Syndics of the Ca2brid!e /niversity 8ress .'9.".':&. Re rinted by er2ission. Scri tures 1uoted fro2 5I3 are fro2 the Hoty Bible, New International Version. Co yri!ht - .':*".':;".';(" International Bible Society. /sed by er2ission of <ondervan Bible 8ublishers. Scri tures 1uoted fro2 RS3 are fro2 the Revised Standard 3ersion of the Bible" co yri!ht - .'(9".'+%".':. by the $ivision of Christian Education of the 5ational Council of the churches of Christ in the /SA. /sed by er2ission.

/nless other0ise indicated" the Scri ture 1uotations throu!hout the volu2e are fro2 the Revised Standard 3ersion of the Bible. 4he authors assu2e full res onsibility for the accuracy of all 1uotations cited in this book.

&rinted in t$e )*S*A* by t$e Revie( and +erald &u%lis$in! Association +a!ersto(n' Maryland %.:(& Li%rary o, Con!ress Catalo!in!-in-&u%lication Data Sy2 osiu2 on Revelation= introductory and e7e!etical studies > editor" Frank B. Holbrook. p* cm* . ?$aniel and Revelation Committee series = v. 9-@ Includes %i%lio!rap$ical references and inde * IS"N &-'%+9:+-.(-; ?v. .@ .. Bible. 5.4. Revelation-Criticis2" inter retation" etc. I. Holbrook" Frank B. II. Series= $aniel and Revelation Co22ittee series A
v. 6,. etc.

BS%;%+.%.S'9 .''%% %%;B.&9-dc%&

'%-*.&% CI&

Abbreviations
AA The cts of the postles

AB
AUSS Bib

Anchor Bible
ndre-s .niversity Se+inary Studies Bi/lica

CBC
DA DNTT EvQ GC IB

Catholic Biblical Cuarterly


The Desire of 0es Dictionary of Ne- Testa+ent Theolo0y 1van0elical Quarterly The 2reat 3ontroversy Interpreter4s Bible

$ARC6# $aniel and Revelation Co22ittee

ICC
IDB I15 Int JATS 5BL 5T3 5TS

International Critical Co22entary


Interpreter4s Dictionary of the Bi/le Israel 16ploration 5ournal Interpretation 5ournal of4the Adventist Theologi al So iety 5ournal of Bi/lical Literature 5ournal for Theolo0y and the 3hurch 5ournal of Theolo0ical Studies

L//
NASB

Se tua!int
Ne- +erican Standard Bi/le

5IC54
NTS PP RB Rev16p

5e0 International Commentary on the 5e0 Testament


Ne- Testa+ent Studies Patriarchs and !rophets Revue /i/li7ue Revie- and 16positor

S"T
TDNT T" ZA 8 W

Studies in "i%lical T$eolo!y


Theolo0ical Dictionary of the Ne- Testa+ent, Kittel and Friedric ! eds. Theologis he 8eitschrift "eits hrift #rAssyrio$ogie 8eitschrift fur alttestamentli he %issens haft

ID

/II* >?@@*

Sealed Saints and t$e Tri%ulation "eatrice 5eall T$e Mi!$ty An!el and +is Messa!e * * * Jillia2 H. Shea T$e Mi!$ty An!el ******* T$e An!el9s Messa!e ******

Contents
Ackno0led!e2ents 0uide to 4ransliteration Abbreviations . . To the Reader . . E vii i 7iii

/IV* Time &rop$ecies o, Daniel 6A and Revelation 6A-62 Jillia2 H. Shea

III Appendices
A* Ellen 0* 8$ite and Revelation :-6 **** Bon 1aulien "* 8$en Did t$e Seventy 8ee#s o, Daniel 7;A: "e!inC Jillia2 H. Shea
Inde

Introductory Studies
I* 1oundational &rinciples o, Interpretation ******* 2 Fenneth A. Strand II* T$e Ei!$t "asic Visions ************ 23 Fenneth A. Strand III* 40lorious-Introduction5 Scenes ********* 36 Fenneth A. Strand IV* Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 ........ :* Hon 8aulien V* Sanctuary Typolo!y ************* 77 Richard #. $avidson VI* Relations$ips "et(een Daniel and Revelation ****** 626 Richard Ieh2ann VII* Ellen 0* 8$ite9s )se o, Daniel and Revelation ****** 6:3 Geor!e E. Rice VIII* T$e Interpreter9s )se o, t$e 8ritin!s o, Ellen 0* 8$ite *** 662 Hon 8aulien

II E e!etical Studies
I/* Issues in Revelation; DARCOM Report ******** 6<3 /* Seals and Trumpets; Some Current Discussions ***** 6=2 Hon 8aulien /I* T$e Seven Seals *************** 677 Hon 8aulien

/I

To t$e Reader
Jith its ublication of a t0o-book sy2 osiu2 on Revelation" the Co22ittee concludes nearly a decade of on!oin! study that first focused on issues in $aniel" Ieviticus" and Hebre0s. In recent years the Co22ittee has !iven its ti2e al2ost e7clusively to 2atters ertainin! to the book of Revelation. Symposium on Revelation ?books . and %@ is nu2bered as volu2es 9 and : in the $ARC6# Series. Interest in the 2eanin! of the book of Revelation is 0ides read a2on! 2any Christian !rou s. Critical scholarshi rele!ates its sy2bolic 2essa!es to events occurrin! in the first century Hudais2 and the Ro2an E2 ire. But 2any conservative Christians have e2braced so2e for2 of futurist inter retation that re2oves the fulfill2ent of the bulk of the ro hecies fro2 the Christian Era to the last seven years of the a!e K e2bellished 0ith such beliefs as a secret ra ture of the church" the conversion of the Be(s' an individual antichrist" and a * ,% year eriod of tribulation. Iivin! in such a reli!ious cli2ate" Seventh-day Adventists have not esca ed the influence of these schools of inter retation u on their o0n understandin! of Bible ro hecy. 4he co22itteeGs ori!inal assi!n2ent involved challen!es that ca2e fro2 reterist>hi!her critical ers ectives. But 2ore recently" vie0s are bein! ro2oted that involve dual fulfill2ents of selected ro hecies in $aniel and Revelation or other sche2es of inter retation" resultin! in variant for2s of futuris2" Je do not 1uestion the sincerity of those 0ho develo different syste2s to robe the 2ysteries of a ocaly tic ro hecy" and 0e encoura!e earnest study of the Scri tures by every 2e2ber. 5evertheless" reterist or futurist for2s of interretation can only 0eaken the historically-based foundation of $aniel and Revelation on 0hich Seventh-day Adventist self-understandin! rests. 4his is not an arbitrary 2atter 0ith us. Seventh-day Adventists are historicist inter reters of these ro hecies because 0e believe Hesus and the biblical data itself oint us to that 2ethod of inter retation as the only correct 2ethod to use. In the li!ht of the current interest several cha ters in these ne0 volu2es e7a2ine the ar!u2ents for inter retations !rounded in the assu2 tion of dual fulfill2ents in a ocaly tic ro hecy. 6ne cha ter in articular e7a2ines the vie0 that roLects the ti2e eriods of $aniel .% and Revelation .* to future end-ti2e fulfill2ents. Sound rinci les of inter retation are essential to a correct understandin! of 7iii

the ancient Scri tures. 4his is es ecially true of the book of Revelation because its sy2bolis2 is forei!n to our 2odern 2ind-set. 4he first si7 cha ters of book . are directed to0ard establishin! such rinci les. Since the 0ritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite are often cited as authority for vie0s she herself never held" t0o cha ters and an a endi7 article deal 0ith her understandin! of these ro hecies. Guidelines are su!!ested to avoid the 2isuse of this i2 ortant source of biblical understandin!. 4he e7e!etical section of book . deals 0ith different as ects of the obscure series of the seals ?(=.-+=.@ and the tru2 ets ?;=.-..=.;@. 4he central 1uestion of 0hether the seals and tru2 ets are fulfilled in se1uences across the Christian Era u to and includin! the end" or 0hether both series find fulfill2ent ?or a dual fulfill2ent@ only 2 the end-ti2e is evaluated in har2ony 0ith the Scri ture indicators. 8resentations on the seals and on the vision of Revelation .& ? art of the in terlude in the tru2 et series@ a ear in this volu2e. 4he Co22ittee did not 0ish to foster unnecessary s eculations on the very obscure tru2 et series. It chose not to rint sa2 les of historicist inter retations. Ii2itin! its ublished e7 ression to the biblical evidence that clearly locates both the seals and tru2 ets in historical" robationary ti2e" the Co22ittee 0ould encoura!e continued study 0ithin these ara2eters. 6nce 2ore" 0e ackno0led!e our a reciation for the scholars and invitees 0ho have assisted the co22ittee in its task" es ecially the 0riters 0hose essays a ear in this volu2e= Richard #. $avidson Hon 8aulien Richard Ieh2ann Geor!e E. Rice Beatrice 5eall Jillia2 H. Shea Fenneth A. Strand
$A5IEI

A5$ RE3EIA4I65 C6##I44EE

0eneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

/IV

I I54R6$/C46RM S4/$IES

8rinci les of Inter retation Iiterary Structure Sy2bolis2 and 4y olo!y $aniel>Revelation Relationshi s Ellen JhiteGs /se of A ocaly tic Inter reterGs /se of the Ellen Jhite Jritin!s

C$apter I

1oundational &rinciples o, Interpretation


Dennet$ A* Strand
Editorial Synopsis* Conservative C$ristians fir2ly believe that t$e "i%le9s 2essa!e transcends its time and culture. Conse1uently" as the years ass and t$e !ulf of centuries (idens %et(een t$e ancient and modern 0orlds" it beco2es increasin!ly important ,or students o, t$e Scriptures to adhere strictly to sound rinci les of interpretation lest they misconstrue 0od9s 8ord* T$is is es ecially true ($en it comes to discoverin! t$e trut$s couc$ed in the sy2bols of the apocalyptic books o, Daniel and Revelation* In t$is important c$apter t$e aut$or spells out t$e c$aracteristics o, apocalyptic prop$ecy' dra(s out t$e purpose and t$eme o, t$e %oo# o, Revelation' e plores t$e nature o, its sym%olism' and points t$e (ay to determine its meanin!* All syste2s o, interpretin! Revelation 2ust be!in by locatin! its several se!2ents in ast" present' or future ti2e ,rames* A,ter years o, study" it is the resent aut$or9s deep conviction that a clear understandin! of the literary arran!e2ent of Revelation provides the necessary foundation on ($ic$ to erect a sound interpretation of its visions* T$e ro hetic %oo# itself supplies the keys to e7 lain its structure. T$e data indicates t$at Revelation is co2 osed o, ei!ht visions internally lin#ed to ,orm ,our airs. T$e ro hecy divides naturally into t(o sections" c$apters 6-6: and cha ters .+-%%. 1our visions precede this natural dividin! line ?close o, c$apter .(@" and ,our visions conclude t$e %oo#* T$e first four visions E$istorical series@ ,ind fulfill2ent in the C$ristian Era leadin! u at their end to t$e Second Advent* T$e last ,our visions ?eschatolo!ical KLud!2ent series@ cover events after t$e dose o, $uman robation. "ecause a correct understandin! of the or!aniNation o, Revelation is so vital to the inter retation of its visions" the ne7t t(o cha ters 0ill also treat this subLect in so2e detail*

Foundational &rinciples o, Interpretation C$apter Outline


I. Inter retational A roaches to Revelation II. E7e!esis" T$eolo!y' and +ermeneutic III. General Rules of Inter retation I3. S ecial Rules for Apocalyptic Inter retation 3. 8ur ose and T$eme o, Revelation VI* Iiterary Structure of Revelation

> J Ohe book of Revelation has been 2isunderstood and 2istreated I more than any other book of the "i%le* Even a cursory !lance at HI the lar!e nu2ber o, co22entaries on Revelation reveals a heno2enally 0ide array of 2isunderstandin!s" 2isinter retations" and conclusions that are not only contradictory %ut fre1uently also $i!$ly s eculative. In star# contrast to t$e rofusion o, e pository material on the Apocalypse is t$e virtual lack of treat2ent of t$e bookGs rich theolo!y. 4o date" there e ists no full-fled!ed" co2 rehensive treat2ent of the theolo!y of t$e book of Revelation" and even discussions of s ecific limited theolo!ical 2otifs or the2es in Revelation are relatively rare and fre1uently both erfunctory and unrelia%le*6

Interpretational Approaches to Revelation


Co22entaries on the Revelation are classified !enerally into several 2aLor cate!ories; historicis2" reteris2" and futuris2. IIistoricism* 4he historical 2ethod 2ay take either of t0o basic a roaches= ?.@ 4he Pstrai!ht-lineP a roach sees Revelation ortrayin! a se1uence of events that be!ins in the A ostolic Era and continues on ste by ste until the !rand eschatolo!ical cli2a7.% ?%@ 4he Preca itula. G4o icalP articles fre1uently re resent e7e!esis of a assa!e 2ore than they do the theolo!y of the A ocaly se as a 0hole or even the theolo!y that infor2s or underlies the assa!e itself. 4here 2ay be a fe0 e7ce tions in so2e areas" such as" for e7a2 le" Christolo!y" neu2atolo!y" and ecclesiolo!y. Also to be noted is the cha ter on P$octrineP in Q. R. S0ete" The po!a"ypse o" St. #ohn, *rd ed. ?Ca2brid!e" En!land" .'&;@" cli7-cl77iii. 4his treats the to ics of 2onotheis2" the doctrine of God" Christolo!y" neu2atolo!y" ecclesiolo!y" soteriolo!y" and an!clolo!y" but basically only surveys the $ata. % A nu2ber of 0ell-kno0n inter reters of an earlier !eneration 0ere adherents of this vie0" such as Albert Ba2es" Ada2 Clarke" E. B. Elliolt" and Ale7ander Feith. Barnes" e.!." treats the seven seals as belon!in! to a se1uence of events in the early ost-A ostolic Era" the seven tru2 ets as be!innin! 0ith the 3isi!oth sack of Ro2e in A.$. (.&" the little book o en in Rev .& as the

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation tionP a roach inter rets the various visions in Revelation as !oin! over the sa2e !round fro2 the ro hetGs o0n day until the end-ti2e. 4his latter ty e of inter retation has been standard for Seventh-day Adventists.* In either case the ro hecies are understood to 2eet their fulfill2ents in historical ti2e bet0een the days of Hohn and the establish2ent of the eternal kin!do2. &reterism* 6n the other hand reteris2 has tended to inter ret either the entire book of Revelation or virtually all of it as ancient history. #ost reterist scholars look u on the ro hecies of the A ocaly se as reflectin! events and conditions relatin! to the Christian church and Ro2an E2 ire in HohnGs o0n ti2e" ossibly reachin! also a short 0hile beyond that ti2e to e2brace thin!s antici ated by Hohn. 4here are" ho0ever" a fe0 e7 ositions of reteris2 that 0ould allo0 ro hecies of the A ocaly se to reach as far as Constantine the Great in the early fourth century" 0ith the section fro2 .'=.. on0ard ossibly belon!in! to a later eriod that is still future in our o0n day.( 1uturism* 4he futurist syste2 of inter retation sees the fulfill2ent of 2ost of Revelation restricted to a short eriod of ti2e still future to our o0n day. A subclass of futuris2Kone into 0hich 2ost futurists and even 2ost evan!elicals fallKis that of retribulationis2>dis ensationalis2.+ 4his articular a roach nor2ally inter rets Revelation (=.-.'=.& as occurrin! in
open Bible at the time of t$e si7teenth-century Refor2ation" and the seven last la!ues as reflective of the French Revolution of the late ei!hteenth century. * 4he e ample that still is erha s best kno0n is /riah S2ithGs Thou%tts on &aniel an$ Revelation Emultiple editions and rintin!s" includin! the resently available Prevised editionP first ublished in .'(( by the Southern 8ublishin! Association" in 5ashville" 4ennessee@. 6ther Sevent$-day Adventist 0riters" includin! S. 5. Haskell and R. A. Anderson" have used the sa2e a roach. 4he 2ost recent thorou!h!oin! co22entary dis layin! it is the e7cellent ublication by C #ervyn Ma (ell' 'o$ Cares, vol. % ?Boise" ID' .';+@. A2on! non-Seventh-day Adventist 0riters" I have found none that uses the a roach in the 0ay Seventh-day Adventists do" but artial>or inco2 lete re etitions of se1uences are set forth" e.!." by S. I. #orris" The &rama o" (hristianity ERic$mond' VA' .'%;@A and Jillia2 Hendrikscn" )ore Than (on*uerors ?Grand Rapids' .'(&@. : Ori!ination of the reterist vie0 is usually attributed to Luis de AlcaNar ?d. .9.*@" a S anish Hesuit" in his 2onu2ental Investi"yition o" the Hi$$en Sense o"+the po!alypse ? ublished osthu2ously in .9.(@. Alon!0ith hi2 and so2e other early Catholic e7 ositors" various 8rotestant co22entators o, later centuries ?e.!." I. 4. Beck0ith" Moses Stuart" and H. B. S0ete@ have tended to0ard allo0in! parts of the A ocaly se a fulfill2ent reachin! into the earliest ost-A ostolic Christian centuries. &reterist co22entators in the Pliberal tradition"P 0hether Catholic or 8rotestant" inter ret the book as reflective of HohnGs o0n ti2e. + A2on! a fairly lar!e nu2ber of e7a2 les are recent co22entaries by Hohn Jotvoord" The Revelation o" #esus (hrist, (ommentary ?Chica!o" .'99@A and Hal Iindsey" There+s aNew -orl$ (oming ?Santa Ana" CA" .':*@. 4he for2er is a scholarly ty e of roduction" and the latter is a o ular-style 0ork.

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation a seven-year eriod still future to usKa eriod be!innin! 0ith a PsecretP ra ture and 2arked at its close by the !lorious visible a earin! of Christ. 4he retribulationists>dis ensationalists consider this seven-year eriod as the seventieth 0eek of years of the ro hecy of $aniel '=%(-%:" althou!h the si7ty-ninth 0eek concluded in the early Christian Era.9 Ot$er approac$es* In addition to the three 2aLor schools of inter retation and their subdivisions" there are a variety of other inter retational a roaches to Revelation in vo!ue today. So2e of these overla or e2brace in art one or 2ore of the traditional a roaches" but all tend to lace their 2ain e2 hasis in so2e other direction. 4here are" for instance" various ,historical inter retations. 4hese vie0 the A ocaly se as ortrayin! a 2ytholo!ical dra2a" 2arvelous ideals" value hiloso hy" or so2ethin! of si2ilar sort" 0ithout touchin! real history and>or !enuine eschatolo!y at all.: 1inally' it s$ould be noted t$at in recent years t$ere $as been a trend to(ard amal!amation o, approac$es* &er$aps most notable alon! this line are attempts to blend preterism into futuris2" (it$ t$e ,ormer a backdro to the latter ?for e7a2 le" 0eor!e Eldon Ladd and Leon #orris@ or to reinterpret $istoricism into a futuristic 2ode Eparticularly noticeable in e positions by some Sevent$-day Adventists ($o are resently ublishin! t$eir private vie(s* It is not 2y ur ose in this cha ter to illustrate further or to evaluate the various a roaches. 4his I have done briefly else0here 0ith re!ard to the three traditional ones" so2ethin! 0hich also has been done by a nu2ber of other recent 0riters. ; In due course" certain basic rinci les 0ill be discussed that 0ill aid the reader in siftin! a0ay unsound inter retational 2odes fro2 0hat is sound and valid.
9 8rolific literature has been roduced by e7 onents of the vie0" be!innin! 0ith its ori!inator H. 5. $arby" of Ireland" who ut to!ether the essence of retribulationis2>dis ensationalis2 durin! the late .;%&s and the .;*&s. $arby0as 2ost ro2inent for his activity in En!land ?he is usually considered to be the founder of the P8ly2outh BrethrenP 2ove2ent@" but ersonally ro2ul!ated $is vie(s also on the Euro ean continent and in 5orth A2erica" to 0hich he look si7 tri s. In A2erica" the Scofield Re,erence Bible has had considerable influence in o ulariNin! the vie0" enhanced in recent years by ublications of Hal Iindsay. 4he Psyste2atic theolo!iesP of Alva McClain and I. S. Chafer also es ouse this vie(* A2on! a nu2ber of !ood surveys and evaluations of rctributationis2>dis ensationalis2" note should be taken of the fair and very readable criti1ue !iven by Geor!e Eldon Iadd" The Blesse$ Hope ?Grand Ra ids" .'+9@. : A2on! e7 ositors 0ho have 0ritten in En!lish" the follo0in! can robably be included ?thou!h erha s 0ith so2e sort of reterist or other PhistoricalP ty e of settin! involved@= E. J. Bcnson. Ray2ond Calkins" Jillia2 #illi!an" 8aul S. #inear" S. I. #orris" and $. 4. 5iles. = See D*A* Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o"+Revelation, %nd ed. ?5a les" 1L' .':'@" ..-.9A cf. also" e.!." #en-ill (.TeRney, Interpreting Revelation ?Grand Ra ids" .'+:@" .*+-(9.

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation For the 2o2ent" it 0ill suffice si2 ly to oint out that any a roach based on e7ternal criteria and o inions ?rather than e2er!in! fro2 the A ocaly se itself@ should be considered hi!hly sus ect. In fact" the confusions so ra2 ant in 2ost co22entaries" 0hatever their articular inter retational stance" find their root cause in eisegesis/that is" readin! into the te7t so2ethin! that is not there/rather than roceedin! on the basis of sound e0egesis/dra0in! out of the te7t 0hat is there. T$is eisegeti! itfall reveals itsel, in a nu2ber of 0ays. T$ese often seem plausi%le %ecause t$ey appear to utiliFe the valid inter retational rinci le of comparin! scri ture (it$ scripture* T$e reader must #eep in mind' $o(ever' that it is not t$e a2ount of Scri ture 1uoted" referred to' or Gu taposed that really 2atters. 8$at counts is the soundness of t$e procedure %ein! used. Accordin! to A &eter 2;66 there (ere in the 5e0 Testament era those ($o 0rested the Scri tures to 5t$eir o0n destruction.P T$at ractice" un,ortunately' still is revalent to a hi!h de!ree in our day" and the inter retin! o, Revelation seems particularly rone to it*

E e!esis' T$eolo!y' and +ermeneutic


"y 0ay of introduction" 0e observe t$at there are both di,,erences and commonalities %et(een t$e e e!etical and t$eolo!ical approac$es to the %oo# o, Revelation* E e!esis deals 0ith a speci,ic te t or passa!e and seeks to dra( out the authorGs intended 2essa!e in that particular te t or passa!e* T$is involves all t$e concerns t$at an e e!ete nor2ally $as in dealin! (it$ any piece of literature ?2eanin! o, 0ords" syntactical relationshi s" etc.@" !eneral historical and literary conte ts' and ($atever other in,ormation may s$ed li!ht on t$e meanin! o, the passa!e' includin! relevant state2ents t$e aut$or 2akes else0here. 4heolo!ical study utiliNes the sa2e tools and her2eneutical rinci les. But 0hereas e7e!etical study nor2ally 2eans the careful and sound e7a2ination of 1 parti!ular te0t or passage, theolo!ical study usually enco2 asses the follo0in!= 1irst' it utiliFes the e e!etical results o, a nu2ber o, related te7ts or passa!es* Second' it see#s to place t$ese in ro er relations$ip (it$ each other. 1inally' it endeavors to relate t$is synt$esis to %roader scri tural evidences and e positions o, the same theolo!ical 2otifs" t$emes' or perspectives E,rom %ot$ t$e Old and 5e0 TestamentsH* 4hus e7e!esis in Revelation asks the basic foundational 1uestion" Jhat does this s ecific assa!e in the A ocaly se tell usS 4heolo!ical

1oundational &rinciples o, Interpretation study' on t$e ot$er $and as#s t$e %roader Iuestion' 8$at t$eolo!ical t$emes or moti,s are illuminated and elucidated %y t$is passa!e' and $o( does t$is %oo#9s presentation o, t$ese t$emes and moti,s ,it into t$e (ider conte t o, %ot$ Ne( Testament t$eolo!y and %i%lical t$eolo!y as a ($oleC "ecause o, t$e #inds o, misinterpretations o, t$e Apocalypse t$at $ave %een emer!in! in recent years' not only ,rom non-Adventist (riters %ut also (it$in certain Adventist circles' (e (ill ,irst reiterate %rie,ly t$e (ell-#no(n and !enerally received principles o, "i%le interpretation* T$en (e (ill !ive more detailed attention to certain vitally important matters re!ardin! Revelation t$at are all too o,ten un#no(n or overloo#ed %y present-day e positors* T$e present c$apter (ill not overlap unduly ($at is presented else($ere in t$e Daniel and Revelation Committee series on t$is topic' %ut t$e matter o, a sound $ermeneutic is so essential t$at some restatement may even %e $elp,ul*

0eneral Rules o, Interpretation


T$e !eneral rules ,or t$e interpretation o, any "i%le %oo# o%viously must also apply to t$e %oo# o, Revelation* +ence a ,e( comments on t$ese ,ollo( immediately %elo(* Scripture As Its O(n "est Inter reter Sevent$-day Adventists ,irmly believe t$at Scripture is not o, private interpretation %ut t$at $oly men o, 0od spo#e as they (ere moved %y t$e +oly Spirit ?% &et 6=%&-%.@. T$is fact o, divine ins iration assures t$at +oly Scripture is totally relia%le truth. It leads to t$e conclusion that Scri ture is its o(n best interpreter' an inter retational principle already 2entioned a%ove* "i%le passa!es' $o(ever' must not %e ut to!et$er in a (illy-nilly ,as$ion* A sound approac$ takes into account the follo0in! ,acts; ?.@ T$e Scriptures are not only truth in an overall sense' %ut also contain many in$ivi$ual truths. ?%@ T$ere,ore' in dealin! (it$ any Scri ture assa!e it is important to ascertain recisely ($at t$at articular assa!e treats and
7 8illiam 0* Bo$nsson' 5Conditionality in "i%lical &rop$ecy 8it$ &articular Re,erence to Apoca lyptic'5 The Seventy Weeks, Leviticus, and the Nature of Prophecy, DARCOM Series' ed* 1* "* +ol%roo#' vol* 2 E8as$in!ton' DC; "i%lical Researc$ Institute' 67=6H' A37-=<J and 0er$ard 1* +asel' 51ul,illments o, &rop$ecy'5 The Seventy Weeks, Leviticus, and the Nature of Prophecy, DARCOM Series' ed* 1* "* +ol%roo#' vol* 2 E8as$in!ton' DC; "i%lical Researc$ Institute' 67=6H' A==-2AA*

1oundational &rinciples o, Interpretation 0hat its o(n s ecific 2essa!e is in its own spe!i"i! context. ?*@ Jhereas brin!in! to!ether t0o or 2ore "i%le passa!es $avin! relevance for the same to ic 0ill illu2ine our understandin! o, t$e divine trut$ t$at is involved' co2binin! ,allaciously t(o or more items that are absolutely true in the2selves may very 0ell lead to a synthesis t$at is 0holly unsound and erroneous* T$e last oint needs particular e2 hasis. 1or instance' i, (e (ould attempt to 2er!e a ,ully accurate %io!rap$y o, Au!ustus Caesar (it$ a fully accurate %io!rap$y o, 0eor!e 8as$in!ton Eeac$ o, t$ese individuals 0as called 5,at$er of his countryP@" o%viously (e (ould $ave a com%ined account ,illed (it$ error* So also (ould be the case i, (e (ere to intrude a factual account o, 5a oleon "onaparte9s military career into a factual account o, the Second Jorld 8ar* 8layin! loose in this fashion 0ith individually true and thorou!hly accurate ieces of historical infor2ation see2s ludicrous" and surely it is so* Ket t$is very sort of 2ethodolo!y is paralleled today in certain interpretational sche2es a lied to the %oo# o, RevelationL.& Jhether t$e field is !eneral historio!ra hy or biblical studies ?or for that 2atter" any ot$er field@" the end result is not trut$' %ut confusion and error* Dili!ent Study' )sin! All Availa%le Tools 4he "ereans are referred to as bein! 5more no%le5 t$an t$e T$essa- lonians %ecause they readily received t$e 0ord o, the a ostles and t$en studied the Scri tures to determine ($et$er t$e 2essa!e o, t$e apostles (as true ?Acts .:=..@. T$e searc$ ,or divine truth 2ust %e care,ul' dili!ent" and balanced. Such study involves a proper comparin! o, scripture 0ith scripture' takin! care that as 2uch kno0led!e as ossible %e !ained ,rom eac$ "i%le passa!e utiliFed* 4his su!!ests a serious and proper use o, tools t$at are availa%le; Bible concordances" "i%le dictionaries' "i%le handbooks" re,erence 0orks on biblical history and archaeolo!y" 2a s and treatments of t$e !eo!ra hy o, t$e Bible lands' le7icons" and ot$er $elps (it$ re!ard to the biblical lan!ua!es. ?If ossible" the biblical te t s$ould %e read in its ori!inal lan!ua!es.@
6M Sevent$-day Adventists tend to %e amaFed t$at dispensationalist evan!elicals can move t$e seven tiet$ (ee# o, t$e prop$ecy o, Daniel 7;A:-A< ,rom t$e NT era do(n into a time still ,uture in our o(n day' and t$at t$ey t$en ma#e Rev :;6-67;6M virtually an e position o, t$at so-called 5seventiet$ (ee#5 o, Daniel* +o(ever' certain recent Sevent$-day Adventist (riters (it$ a ,uturist %ent display t$is same sort o, tec$niIue in t$eir private e positions o, Revelation*

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation Althou!h 0e 2ust be 0ary of 0hat is si2 ly hu2an traditionKso2ethin! 0hich all too fre1uently includes errorK0e 2ust reco!niNe that the ro er and Ludicious use of relevant historical and archaeolo!ical back!round source 2aterials" le7icons" and si2ilar hel s can be 2ost useful and illu2inatin! in the search for and discovery of" scri tural truth. Individuals 0ho are lay ersons to the various disci lines 2entioned above should not des air. Reliable infor2ation is readily available to anyone 0illin! to study. Jhether such Bible students realiNe it or not" their very readin! of Scri ture in En!lish or in another 2odern lan!ua!e carries indebtedness to scholars kno0led!eable in the biblical lan!ua!es and in historical and other relevant back!rounds to the Bible. Fortunately" too" there are available a nu2ber of Bible translations ?at least in En!lish@ that can be co2 ared 0ith one another. It is 0ell to note at this Luncture that Bible students 0ho are !enuinely searchin! for truth 0ill not si2 ly select translations or traditional 0ordin!s to 2eet their o0n fancy on dis uted oints. Rather" they 0ill search for the re onderance of evidence as to 0hat is correct. Bible translations differ in choice of 0ords and in 2anner of e7 ression" yet divine truth is usually set forth in al2ost all translations so accurately and ade1uately that no one need !o astrayKat least not on 2atters vital to salvation. It is true" ho0ever" that so2e translations are in !eneral 2ore trust0orthy than others. As a rule" a translation of the 2ore PliteralP kind should be referred over the PfreeP or P ara hrasticP ty e... 6ften eo le 0ill s eak of the latter kind of translation ?e7e2 lified" for e7a2 le" by the Iivin! Bible@ as 0hat they refer" because such a translation Pis so clear.P 4he real 1uestion" thou!h" should be this= In these "ree translations" 0hat is it that is so clearKthe 0ord of God" or the o inion of the translatorS 8illin!ness to Do 0od9s 8ill Another !eneral rule of inter retation relates to the readerGs attitude to0ard truth. As stated by our Iord" Pif any 2anGs 0ill is to do his TGodGsU 0ill" he shall kno0 0hether the teachin! is fro2 GodP ?Hohn :=.:@. 4he book of Revelation itself is 2ost forceful in e2 hasiNin! that nothin! should be added to and nothin! taken a0ay fro2 0hat is 0ritten there.. E amples of the PliteralP or Pfor2alP translations= Fin! Ha2es" 5e0 Fin! Ha2es" Revised Standard 3ersion" 5e0 A2erican Standard Bible" etc* E amples of the PfreeP or dyna2ic 2ethod of translation= 5e0 En!lish Bible" Herusale2 Bible" 4odayGs En!lish 3ersion" 5e0 International 3ersion" 8hili s 4ranslation" Iivin! Bible" etc. .&

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation in* Indeed' ronounces a blessin! on t$ose ($o $eed the %oo#9s messa!e' and a curse on t$ose ($o distort it ?see Rev .=*A %%=:b" .;-.'@. &rayer,ul Study &rayer,ul study of t$e Scriptures is a rinci le o, ut2ost i2 ortance. T$e same +oly Spirit ($o ins ired t$e "i%le (riters to record divine truth must also %e present to illumine our minds to t$at trut$* T$is articular rinci le could $ave %een stated First amoun! our !eneral rinci les because o, its e treme i2 ortance. I have c$osen to lace it at the conclusion instead" ,or it e2braces all the others 0hen it is undertaken conscientiously. &rayer,ul study means study t$at uses a sound met$od in comparin! scripture (it$ scripture' that takes advanta!e o, all available tools in doin! dili!ent study' and is c$aracteriFed by a 0illin!ness to do 0od9s 0ill and ,ollo( t$e results o, one9s study ($erever they 2ay lead*

Special Rules ,or Apocalyptic Interpretation


Impact o, Literary 1orm "i%le trut$ is many-,aceted and the "i%le (riters $ave utiliNed a !reat variety o, literary types in order to convey t$e divine messa!e* It is ,undamental to reco!niFe that trut$ e pressed t$rou!$ a articular literary ,orm displays t$e c$aracteristics of t$at ,orm and is understood only 0hen due consideration is !iven to those characteristics. +istorical narratives' le!al prescriptions' 0isdo2 sayin!s' letters' oetic reflections and accla2ations are amon! the numerous and varied types o, literature included in t$e "i%le* T$ey a ear also at ti2es in com%ination (it$ one anot$er* 1or 2ost readers' t$e di,,erence %et(een rose and oetry is per$aps easiest to reco!niFe* 1or e7a2 le" in the rose account of the E odus (e are told t$at 0od sent 5a stron! east 0indP to drive back t$e 0aters of t$e sea EE od .(=%.@. In t$e poetic account the statement is 2ade that Pat the %last o, thy N0od9sO nostrils t$e (aters piled u P EE od .+=;@. T$e ,i!urativeness of t$e poetic e pression is i22ediately apparent* Most readers (ould not visualiFe 0od as actually crouchin! on hands and #nees and snortin! t$rou!$ +is nostrils at t$e (aters of the seaL And yet' t$at picturesIue description adds le!itimate emp$asis and effectiveness in settin! ,ort$ a divine trut$ ($en it is read ro erly as t$e ,i!urative lan!ua!e that it is. T$e %oo# o, Revelation re resents a type of literature and style uni1ue ..

1oundational &rinciples of Inter retation amon! the %oo#s o, t$e 5e0 Testament* Its closest Bible arallel is t$e 6ld Testament %oo# o, Daniel* T$ese t0o Bible %oo#s !enerally are classified as 5apocalyptic ro hecy"P in contrast to 5classical ro hecyP ?so2eti2es called 5!eneral ro hecyP@" t$e latter bein! re resented %y such books as t$e maGor and minor prop$ets* "ot$ #inds o, prop$etic literature teac$ divine truth" as do all the other #inds o, literature in t$e "i%le* "ut Gust as in the case of the ot$er literary types' the c$aracteristics peculiar to this kind of literature must be taken into account by t$e student. /nfortunately" t$e distinction %et(een classical and apocalyptic prop$ecy is ,reIuently %lurred %y "i%le e positors* In t$e para!rap$s belo0" (e 0ill First note briefly so2e of t$e 2ore !enerally reco!niFed c$aracteristics o, a ocaly tic. T$en (e (ill deal in more detail (it$ some ,eatures of this literature t$at usually are not !iven due consideration* 0enerally Reco!niFed 1eatures o, Apocalyptic 3arious authors have ointed out features co22on to the !enre of literature kno0n as a ocaly tic. 4he follo0in! list" based lar!ely on my Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, 2ay be considered re resentative=.% Stri#in! contrasts* A ocaly tic ro hecy 2akes a clear and invariable line of de2arcation bet0een !ood and evil" bet0een GodGs forces and SatanGs forces" bet0een the ri!hteous and the 0icked" bet0een salvation for GodGs children and doo2 for their ene2ies. A2on! the nu2erous strikin! o osites in the book of Revelation are the seal of God and the 2ark of the beast" the faithful and true 0itness and the ser ent that deceives the 0orld" the vir!in of Revelation .% and the harlot of Revelation .:" the ar2ies of heaven and the ar2ies of earth" the fruit of the tree of life and the 0ine of the fury of GodGs 0rath" the 5e0 Herusale2 in !lorious s lendor and Babylon in fla2in! destruction" and the sea of !lass and the lake of fire. Cosmic s0ee . Classical ro hecy deals 0ith the local and conte2 orary situation as its ri2ary focus" 0ith a certain de!ree of broadenin! to de ict a final !reat day of the Iord. A ocaly tic has instead" as its very 0ar and 0oof" the ele2ent of cos2ic s0ee or universal sco e. A ocaly tic ro hecy a roaches the !reat controversy bet0een !ood and evil" not 0ithin a local and conte2 orary historical fra2e0ork ?such as de icted in the 2essa!es of the 2aLor and 2inor ro hets@" but fro2 the vanta!e oint
12 Strand! Interpretin0 the Book ofRevelation, 1"# 2$. 12

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation that dra0s aside the curtain" as it 0ere" on the entire worl$ for the whole span of hu2an history. For e7a2 le" $aniel % and : treat 0orld e2 ires in succession for the re2ainder of earthGs history fro2 $anielGs ti2e until the final consu22ation and settin! u of GodGs everlastin! kin!do2. Revelation like0ise scans 2aLor historical develo 2ents fro2 HohnGs day u to and includin! a ortrayal of the !rand eschatolo!ical finale. Esc$atolo!ical emp$asis* At ti2es the !eneral ro hets broaden the sco e of the doo2 oracles or Pday-of-the-Iord Lud!2entsPK0hether directed a!ainst Israel" Hudah" 5ineveh" Babylon" #oab" Edo2" or 0hatever entity it 2i!ht beKto ortray briefly a final Lud!2ent at the end of earthGs history. Ho0ever" the 2aLor thrust of their 0ritin! is for the situation of their o0n day. 6n the other hand a ocaly tic ro hecy" althou!h it treats history do0n throu!h the strea2 of ti2e" has a articular focus on the end-ti2e events. A ocaly tic describes an on!oin! stru!!le bet0een !ood and evil in history" a history that tends to de!enerate as it roceeds in ti2e" But it is a history that is actually 2ovin! to0ard an end at 0hich ti2e God Hi2self 0ill directly intervene to destroy evil and establish ri!hteousness. In a sense 0e 2ay say that the !eneral ro hets looked u on history fro2 the stand oint of their o0n osition in ti2e" 0hereas the a ocaly tic ro hets envisa!e a s0ee of history 0ith a s ecial focus on historyGs eventual cli2a7. Ori!in in times o, distress and perple ity* In its historical settin!" biblical a ocaly tic such as $aniel and Revelation arose in ti2es of distress" er le7ity" and ersecution. 4hus" it a ears that A ocaly tic ro hecy e2er!es 0hen dire circu2stances for GodGs eo le 2i!ht 0ell lead the2 to 1uestion 0hether God is still active and in control. And it teaches clearly and forcefully that God is indeed still the 2aster of history" that He is 0ith His eo le" and that He 0ill fully vindicate the2 at a !rand and !lorious eschatolo!ical cli2a7. A ocaly tic ro hecy is a kind of literature that is articularly suited to !ive co2fort and ho e to o ressed and do0ntrodden servants of God in their ti2e of critical need for recisely such co2fort and ho e. Basis in visions and dreams* A co2 arison of a ocaly tic ro hecy 0ith classical ro hecy and other biblical literature indicates that a ocaly tic is characteriNed by 2ore fre1uent reference to visions and drea2s than is true of any other kind of literature found in the Bible. Also" the a earance of an!els to inter ret such visions and drea2s is not unco22on. .*

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation E7tensive use of sy2bolis2. Althou!h classical ro hecy uses sy2bolis2 to so2e de!ree" a ocaly tic 2ay be distin!uished by it. 4he book of Revelation is er2eated 0ith sy2bols of various sortsA its i2a!ery is articularly rich. )se o, composite sym%olism* #oreover" 0hatever sy2bolis2 the classical ro hets use" it tends to follo0 true-to-life atterns" 0hereas a ocaly tic often de arts fro2 conventional for2s. It de icts" for e7a2 le" ani2als that are none7istent in nature" such as the seven-headed dra!on and the sea beast of Revelation" the 0in!ed lion and the four-headed leo ard of $aniel" etc. Co2 osite sy2bolis2 0as co22on" of course" in the art and literature of the ancient 5ear East. Summary* Althou!h classification on the basis of such criteria has been called into 1uestion"P 2ost scholars still !ive 0ei!ht to these ele2ents as bein! basic characteristics of a ocaly tic ro hecy. In any event" the si2 le fact is that there is a body of ancient literature that 2anifests to a !reater or lesser de!ree 2ost of these ele2entsA therefore" for descri tive and utilitarian ur oses a classification on the basis of the2 see2s both useful and 0arranted. Fno0in! and understandin! such s ecial characteristics of a ocaly tic is" of course" a first ste in ro er inter retation. It s$ould be noted' too" that all t$e c$aracteristics set ,ort$ a%ove are not necessarily completely uniIue to apocalyptic* T$e e tent to ($ic$ they a ear and t$e 2anner in 0hich they are used in a ocaly tic is" $o(ever' 1uite distinctive and serves to provide a si!nificant contrast to the dynamic evidenced in classical ro hecy. Vertical and +oriFontal Continuity As useful as t$e ,ore!oin! list o, c$aracteristics is' it does not !et us fully to t$e 5$eart5 of apocalyptic ro hecy. 8e may not %e able to understand and appreciate it sufficiently unless (e can put aside our 5t(entiet$ century !lasses5 and place ourselves sIuarely 0ithin t$e biblical perspective* Here 0e turn our attention s ecifically to t0o ele2ents absolutely vital to understand if 0e are to !ras the true dyna2ic of a ocaly tic. I 0ill refer to the2 as the di2ensions of Pvertical continuityP and PhoriNontal continuity.P Vertical continuity* 4he ancient Se2itic 2ind sa0 heaven and earth in close touch 0ith each other. /nfortunately" this is a ers ective that 0e in our 2odern science-oriented civiliNation have lar!ely lost. 4he 2ode2
.* See es . 8aul $. Hanson" The &awn o" po!alypti! ?8hiladel hia" .':+@" 9-:.

.(

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation

2ind tends to se arate heaven and earth" not si2 ly s atially or hysically" but also s iritually. Even as Christians" (e find ourselves too often out of touch 0ith the fra2es of reference and conce tualiNations characteristic of the Bible 0riters and their ori!inal hearers. God co22unicates" of course" throu!h the lan!ua!e of hu2anity. 4his obviously 2eans 2ore than vocabulary" synta7" and the like. It involves the 0hole conce tual fra2e0ork of the ersons 0ith 0ho2 the co22unication is bein! established. Je 2oderns believe that our t0entieth century scientific fra2es of reference are 2uch better than the conce tualiNations of the ancients" and undoubtedly in so2e 0ays ours are 2ore Pu to dateP and accurate. Ho0ever" 0hether the 0orld-vie0 is an ancient one or a 2odern one" it falls far belo0 the ulti2ate realities of GodGs universe. His condescension to co22unicate 0ith us in our lan!ua!eKthrou!h our conce tual fra2e0ork Kis so !reat that any hu2an difference created by t0o or three 2illennia 2akes virtually no difference. It is "or us, ho0ever" that the Bible 0as 0ritten in ancient ti2es. 4herefore" those fra2es of reference ertinent to the ancient 0riters and hearers 2ust be borne in 2ind by us as 0e seek to understand GodGs 2essa!e today throu!h His 0ritten 0ord..( Jhile 2odern s!ienti"i! conce tualiNations of reality have rovided so2e i2 ortant !ains or correctives" at other ti2es they have led to serious loss. E2 irical s!ienti"i! verification is si2 ly not ossible for all s heres of reality ?in fact" 2ay be li2ited to a rather s2all art of total reality" as scientists the2selves are co2in! 2ore and 2ore to realiNe@. I su!!est that one of the !reatest losses fro2 the ancient Se2itic conce tualiNation of reality is this 2atter 0e are considerin!= the Pvertical continuityP that sees heaven and earth in close touch 0ith each other. 4his Pvertical continuityP is basic to" and a7io2atic for" the entire biblical cor us" both 6ld and 5e0 4esta2ents. 5o0here is it 2ore ro2inently dis layed" ho0ever" than in a ocaly tic. It is not 0ithout reason" for instance" that the book of Revelation re eatedly resents heavenly settin!s in connection 0ith its descri tion of activities that take lace on earth. Actually" a ocaly tic ro hecy pi!toriali2es and $ramati2es this vital ele2ent of the biblical ers ective. 4he essence and i2 ortance of this conce t of Pvertical continuityP as
.( An e7cellent discussion of t$e nature o, t$e ins ired 0ritin!s is !iven by Ellen 0* Jhite in her 5Introduction5 to The Great (ontroversy ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'+&@.

.+

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation a licable to the 2essa!es of the book of Revelation" has been a tly e7 ressed in the follo0in! beautiful 0ords enned by Ellen Jhite= P6ne thin! 0ill certainly be understood fro2 the study of RevelationKthat the connection bet0een God and His eo le is close and decided.P.+ If 0e are to !ras the real beauty and receive the efficacy of GodGs 2essa!es to us in His Jord" 0e 2ust return to this conce t of reality that uts heaven in close s iritual touch 0ith earth. 4his truth is crucial for our understandin! of the 2essa!es of the a ocaly tic books of $aniel and Revelation. +oriFontal continuity* 4he second central feature of a ocaly tic" the di2ension of PhoriNontal continuity"P also needs careful consideration. Hust as a ocaly tic ro hecy ictorialiNes and dra2atiNes a vertical continuity of activity bet0een heaven and earth" so it also ictorialiNes and dra2atiNes a horiNontal continuity in its for0ard outlook. History is a !ontinuum under GodGs control" 2ovin! ever closer to that !lorious consu22ation 0hen GodGs o0n kin!do2 of ri!hteousness 0ill be established for eternity. 4his articular ty e of ro hetic forecast that $elineates $evelopments within a histori!al !ontinuum is a feature that stands in strikin! contrast to classical ro hecy. As already 2entioned" the latter focuses on the ro hetGs o0n ti2e" and then 2ay offer an e7 ansion for a further and broader fulfill2ent of cos2ic sco e at the end of the a!e. It is ro er" therefore" to s eak in a certain sense of the t0o focal oints or Pt0o fociP of classical ro hecy. In contrast" a ocaly tic ro hecy does not roceed on this basis at all. Rather" a ocaly tic ro hecy sees a !ontinuum, a ro!ression or se1uence in history. It does not look si2 ly u on t0o focal ointsKthe ro hetGs ti2e and the end of ti2eK0ith a !a bet0een. 4he a ocaly tic style is clearly illustrated" for e7a2 le" in the se1uences of the i2a!e scene of $aniel % and the four beasts and their horns of $aniel :. But this sort of a ocaly tic a roach to history is not uni1ue 0ith $aniel. 4he e7tracanonical a ocaly ses have indications of the sa2e. For instance" the brief PA ocaly se of JeeksP in Ethio ic Enoch '.=.%-.: and '*=.-.& divides history into .& successive eriods" the last one e2bracin! the final Lud!2ent and introducin! the eternal a!e. Another illustration is BaruchGs arable in cha ters +*-:(" of a thundercloud 0hich rains do0n clear and inky 0aters in so2e .% alternately bri!ht and dark eriods" finally
.+ Ellen 0* 8$ile' Testimonies to )inisters EMountain 3ie0" CA' .'9%@" ..(.

.9

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation reachin! the eschatolo!ical consu22ation. And there are a nu2ber of other e7a2 les as 0ell" includin! the vision of the 2ulti-0in!ed ea!le in ( ENra" cha ters ..-.%" and the drea2-vision of bulls and shee ? lus a 0ide array of other ani2als@ in Ethio ic Enoch" cha ters ;+-'&. Se1uential historical develo 2ents or rocesses are also a arent in the divinely ins ired book of Revelation. Je 2ay certainly think of the strikin! e7a2 les 0ithin the se1uences of the seven seals and of the seven tru2 ets" the seals bein! broken in su!!ession and the tru2 ets bein! blo0n in su!!ession. Iike0ise" the de iction of the ani2osity of the dra!on in cha ter .% e2braces a se1uence" for he "irst attacks the #an-child" then the 0o2an" an$ "inally the re2nant of the 0o2anGs offs rin!. Also indicative of this sa2e sort of se1uential ers ective is the reference in .:=.& to the seven heads of the beast as bein! seven .ings, of 0ho2 five Phave fallen"P Pone is Tin HohnGs ti2eU"P and Pthe other has not yet co2e.P Je have ur osely laced e2 hasis on this PhoriNontal-continuityP di2ension of a ocaly tic" for t0o reasons= ?.@ It is absolutely central to the a ocaly tic ortrayal of history as a succession of events" and ?%@ in recent 0ritin!s by certain ro2inent evan!elical scholars ?such as G. E. Iadd and Ieon #orris@" the a ocaly tic vie0 of history has been confused 0ith the classical- ro hecy a roach of Pdual fulfill2entP or Pt0o foci.P For e7a2 le" Iadd sets forth the idea that the book of Revelation envisa!es the leo ardlike sea beast of cha ter .* as a sy2bol of both the ancient Ro2an E2 ire of HohnGs day ? reteris2@ and an Antichrist still to co2e ?futuris2@. .9 But this kind of t0o-focal- oints inter retational rocedure 0ron!fully trans oses the characteristics of one ty e of ro hetic ortrayal to another ty e" 0here it si2 ly does not fit. In fact" 0hen the dual-foci attern is i2 osed on the a ocaly tic books of $aniel and Revelation" it brin!s distortion to the very 2essa!es God intends to convey in these ro hecies. Classical ro hecy" 0ith its e2 hasis on the ro hetGs o0n day and an occasional Pt0o-fociP ers ective" never elaborates on the events lea$ing up to the final !reat Pday of the Lord*5 4here is" for e7a2 le" no reference in classical ro hecy to an u co2in!" end-ti2e Antichrist o0er. Iadd arrives at this sort of Antichrist" as 0e have noted" by 0ron!ly i2 osin! the t0o-foci classical- ro hecy 2odality u on Revelation 0here Antichrist is indeed found. But, in Revelation ?and $aniel as 0ell@ the Antichrist a ears 0ithin
.9 Sec 0* E* Ladd' (ommentary on the Revelation of John E0rand Ra ids" .':%@" .*A and IaddGs article entitled PA ocaly tic" Apocalypse'5 in aker!s "ictionary o" Theology E0rand Rapids' .'9&@" +*.

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e !

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation

a totally different fra2e of reference" na2ely" 0ithin a histori!al !ontinuum, as a se!2ent of RevelationGs on!oin! hori2ontal !ontinuity. In short" the very nature of a ocaly tic ro hecy rules out reteris2" futuris2" and any co2bination of the2" in favor of the historicist a roach. 4his fact is vital and has i2 ortant theolo!ical i2 lications for our study of the A ocaly se. 6ne further oint 2ay need so2e clarification here= Jhy does this conce t of historical continuu2 e2er!e in a ocaly tic in distinction fro2 the Pt0o fociP conce t of classical ro hecyS I su!!est that a s ecific back!round fro2 the biblical literature itself serves as the attern for this characteristic of a ocaly tic" na2ely" the 6ld 4esta2ent historical narratives. A ocaly tic ro hecy roLects into the future a continuation of the BibleGs historical record. GodGs soverei!nty and constant care for His eo le are al0ays in the forefront of the BibleGs ortrayal of the historical continuu2" 0hether it is de icted in ast events ?historical books@ or in events to co2e ?a ocaly tic ro hecy@. Both $aniel and Revelation reveal a divine overlordshi and 2astery re!ardin! the on0ard 2ove2ent of history beyond the ro hetGs o0n ti2eKa future history that 0ill cul2inate 0hen the God of heaven establishes His o0n eternal kin!do2 that 0ill fill the 0hole earth and stand forever..: In brief" the 2ost notable of the !enerally reco!niNed characteristics of a ocaly tic is its use of sy2bolis2. 4here is obviously a hei!htened e2hasis on this feature" and 2any of the sy2bols are co2 osite in nature. #oreover" the sy2bolis2s reflect the strikin! contrasts so evident in a ocaly tic" and they fre1uently !ive evidence of broad or cos2ic sco e. $eter2inin! the source of the sy2bols e2 loyed" ascertainin! their ran!e of 2eanin!" and their articular focus in the i22ediate conte7t of Revelation are vital considerations for the inter reter. 4he to ic is discussed else0here in this volu2e..; /ndoubtedly the 2ost 2isunderstood and 2isused facet of a ocaly tic relates to its horiNontal continuity. #ost of the !enerally reco!niNed characteristics of a ocaly tic a ear at ti2es in other ro hetic literature in the Bible. But a ocaly tic ro hecyGs horiNontal continuity is a characteristic that stands in shar contrast to the a roach to history !iven in classical ro hecy.
.: $an %=*+"((-.+A cf. Rev %..%%. .; See cha . ( in this volu2e" PInter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2.P

.;

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation 4heolo!ical inter retation of Revelation" in order to be sound" 2ust be co2 atible 0ith this historical ers ective. Revelation e2braces" as does the book of $aniel" a ste -by-ste ro!ression throu!h history" not a olariNed focus on either the ancient eriod or the eschatolo!ical cli2a7 or both. 4hose co22entators 0ho 0ish to co2bine reteris2 and futuris2 as the best a roach to Revelation fly ri!ht in the face of the very nature of the book itself as an a ocaly se. .' It is vital that 0e be true to the actual historical ers ective of Revelation if 0e are to derive correct conclusions about this bookGs i2 ortant 2essa!es. Special Puestions At this Luncture" t0o s ecial 1uestions arise" es ecially in vie0 of 0hat has been said above about a ocaly ticGs PhoriNontal continuityP= ?.@ In a ocaly tic ro hecy" is there such a thin! as repeate$ "ul"illments3 ?%@ $oes the historical ortrayal in a ocaly tic envisa!e a tentativeness or !on-$itionality, so that if conditions 0ere to chan!e" the historical fulfill2ents 0ould like0ise chan!eS Repeated ,ul,illmentsC In revious discussions on a ocaly tic I have noted that there is a certain P hiloso hy-of-historyP ers ective in this kind of ro hecy. %& By P hiloso hy-of-history"P ho0ever" I do not 2ean the Pvalue- hiloso hyP a roach that sets forth hiloso hical considerations or PidealsP 0ithout touchin! historical reality. It 2ust be e2 hasiNed that a ocaly tic ro hecy deals 0ith real events an$ $evelopments in the historical continuu2" fro2 the ro hetGs ti2e on0ard to the end of ti2e. Any a roach that divorces fulfill2ent of a ocaly tic forecasts fro2 real history !oes contrary to the very essence of a ocaly tic historical ortrayal. 4he kind ofP hiloso hy-of-historyP to 0hich I call attention has a certain kind of recurrin! a lication. Je 0ill first took for evidences and>or illustrations of the heno2enonA and second" 0e 0ill note the ty e of 2aterial to 0hich the heno2enon is a licable. Althou!h the evidence is not so clear-cut" this kind of literature does contain so2e indications of the conce t that Phistory re eats itself.P In the noncanonical a ocaly ses" for e7a2 le" BaruchGs arable of the thundercloud divides its historical continuu2 into alternately PclearP and
.' E7 ositors 0ho acce t a historicist fulfill2ent in the ast of certain visions in $aniel and Revelation" but 0ho then o t for a second and ri2ary end-ti2e fulfill2ent of the sa2e" co2e under this stricture as 0etl.KEd. %& Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, .(-.9A and so2e0hat 2ore fully in id." 4erspe!tives in the Boo. o" Revelation ?Jorthin!ton" O+' .':+@" %'-*%.

.'

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation

PinkyP eriods. 4here is" indeed" an al2ost Psin!-son!P attern of historical re etition. In the canonical book of $aniel" the rise and fall of kin!do2s conveys the sa2e thou!ht 0ith re!ard to re etitiveness in history" es ecially so in vie0 of the under!irdin! state2ent that God Pre2oves kin!s and sets u kin!sGB ?$an %=%.@. 4he conce t is e7 ressive of the Pblessin!s-and-cursin!sP for2ulary of $euterono2y ?%:-%;@ and finds !ra hic illustration in IsraelGs o0n history. 4his is 0ell illustrated" for e7a2 le" in the book of Hud!es. Jhenever Israel failed in its covenant co22it2ent" o ression by forei!n nations resulted. $eliverance ca2e 0henever Israel turned to the Iord in sincere re entance. Althou!h each instance 0as a different e isode" 0ith a different Lud!e leadin! the deliverance" the .in$ of historical heno2enon in each case 0as the sa2e. 4hus" it 2ay be said that Israelite Phistory re eated itselfP mprin!iple, thou!h not in s ecific detail. In the book of Revelation 0e find si2ilar su!!estions of re etitive atterns" such as in the four-three division 0ithin various se tets. 6ne 2ay think" for e7a2 le" of the strikin! si2ilarities found in the letters to E hesus and Sardis and a!ain in those to S2yrna and 8hiladel hia ?the first and fifth churches and the second and si7th churches" res ectively" in Revelation %-*@. Further2ore" the very 2anner in 0hich sy2bolis2 is used in Revelation i2 lies at ti2es a repeate$ ?and ossibly a !ontinuous5 a lication. 8articularly i2 ressive is the e7 ression in Revelation ..=;KPthe !reat city 0hich is alle!orically called Sodo2 and E!y t" 0here their Tthe t0o 0itnessesGU Iord 0as crucified.P Here (e find three laces ?Sodo2" E!y t" Herusale2@ brou!ht to!ether and i$enti"ie$ in such a 0ay as to carry our 2inds back to events both in the $istant past and in mu!h !loser time. 4hese events 0ere also se arated !eo!ra hically. Jhat this te7t tells us is not that there is !oin! to be a second or even a third fulfill2ent of Sodo2 or 2ulti le fulfill2ents of the ancient E!y t that held Israel in o ression. Rather" the 2essa!e is that these three distinct entities can be identified in a sort ofPto!ethernessP as to their underlyin! character of 0ickedness and o ression. Hence" they can fittin!ly serve in a symboli! 0ay for the P!reat cityP that e2bodies and re eats a si2ilar character of 0ickedness and o ression. Ellen Jhite" too" in co22entin! on HohnGs vision" 2akes so2e state2ents indicative of this kind of historical re etition. Je 2ay notice" for instance" this state2ent= PIookin! do0n throu!h lon! centuries of darkness and su erstition" the a!ed e7ile sa0 2ultitudes sufferin! 2artyrdo2 because
2$

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation of their love for the truth. But he sa0 also that He 0ho sustained His early 0itnesses 0ould not forsake His faithful follo0ers durin! the centuries of ersecution that they 2ust ass throu!h before the close of ti2e.P%. Jhen clai2s are 2ade that Ellen Jhite su orts re eated fulfill2ents in the books of $aniel and Revelation"%% the conte7t of 0hat she says 2ust be carefully noted and 0hat sort of Pre etition of historyP is involved. 4here is not a sin!le instance 0here she indicates dual or 2ulti le fulfill2ents of the little horn or of any of the beasts of $aniel or Revelation and their ti2e eriods. 4hose entities co2e into e7istence once and once only. 4heir kind of service as vehicles for SatanGs attack u on God and GodGs saints 2ay readily" ho0ever" lead to a repetition o" the general pro!esses used" 0hether these are dece tions or ersecutions ?see Hohn ;=((@. But no a ocaly tic ro hecy is understood to e2body dual or 2ulti le fulfill2ents in itself. Conditionality in apocalypticC In recent rivate 0ritin!s a2on! so2e Seventh-day Adventists" the clai2 is 2ade that there is conditionality in the historical forecasts of a ocaly tic books such as Revelation. 4he ar!u2ent is that such fulfill2ents as Seventh-day Adventists have lon! held as !enuine 0ere only artial onesKif fulfill2ents at allKbecause certain conditions 0ere not 2et. Hence" 0e can look for a yet-future fulfill2ent. Ite2s that have been laced in this cate!ory are the !reat earth1uake" $ark $ay" and fallin! of the stars ?Rev 9=.%-.:@" the end of $anielGs %*&&-day ro hecy in .;((" other ti2e eriods in $aniel and Revelation" and the a ocaly tic ortrayal of history even 2ore !enerally. Jhat 2ust be said first in res onse to this a roach is that the rinci les enunciated above re!ardin! historical ortrayal in a ocaly tic ro hecy hold true for this 1uestion as 0ell as for that of Pre eated fulfill2ent.P T$ose rinci les allo0 no roo2 0hatever for default in the fulfill2ent or ost one2ent of the a ocaly tic forecast because of conditionality. In short" a ocaly tic ro hecy sets forth a historical ro!ression that allo0s no roo2 for variability" as God foretells 0hat 6must shortly co2e to assP ?Rev .=." FH3@. 4here is" for e7a2 le" no 1uestion 0hether the four horse2en of Revelation 9 are !oin! to rideA they 0ill in$ee$ !o forth in the ro!ression indicated. 4he sa2e holds true 0ith the tru2 et 0arnin!s" the la!ues of doo2" the destruction of Babylon" etc. 4hese are all thin!s that
A6 Ellen G. Jhite" The !ts o" the postles ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'..@" +;;. %% Fora discussion of this clai2" see a2 hlet" PEllen G. Jhite and the Inter retation of $aniel and Revelation'5 "i%lical Researc$ Institute' 0eneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

%.

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation Hohn is sho0n and told woul$ happen. 4here si2 ly is no ele2ent of contin!ency involvedV 6ne 2ay ar!ue" ho0ever" that there is an ele2ent ofconditionality in the letters to the seven churches. 4his is indeed so. 4he 0hole conce t of these letters has conditionality as an underlyin! fra2e of reference. But this articular conditionality $oes not relate to the histori!al portrayal of the churchesG situations" but to ho0 the churches and individuals in the2 0ill res ond to ChristGs a eal" ho0 they 0ill $e!i$e to stan$ in the "uture re!ardin! their covenant relationshi 0ith the Iord. 4he hortatory nature of e istolary literature co2es to the fore here. 4he fact that the book of Revelation is a letter as 0ell as an a ocaly tic ro hecy !ives it a certain flavor of e7hortation. But this e7hortation" it 2ust be e2 hasiNed" is li2ited to appeals ?0herever found in the boo., see .9=.+" for an e7a2 le@ and does not a ly to the s ecific ty e of ro hetic forecast that is art and arcel of the nature of a ocaly tic literature. 4he book of $aniel" too" has ele2ents of conditionality in its historical sections and in any a eals that are 2ade. Ho0ever" in neither $aniel nor Revelation is the ro hetic forecast itself subLect to conditionality. 4he events are fi7ed and the rescribed ti2e eriods are definite and invariable. 4hese ele2ents fit the atterns of 0hat $aniel said to Fin! 5ebuchadneNNar= PGod has 2ade kno0n to the kin! 0hat shall be hereafter. 4he drea2 is !ertain, and its inter retation sure6 ?$an %=(+@. Sym%olism in Revelation As noted earlier" a2on! the !eneral characteristics of a ocaly tic ro hecy is its e7tensive use of sy2bolis2" es ecially co2 osite sy2bolis2. 4he book of Revelation is filled 0ith sy2bolis2 and i2a!ery" a fact that causes 2uch consternation and confusion to inter reters. 8art of the roble2 is that 2ode2 e7 ositors fre1uently interLect their o0n 2eanin!s onto the sy2bols" rather than deter2inin! the scri tural ran!e of 2eanin!. As one surveys the Revelation" it beco2es evident that the vast 2aLority of its allusions in sy2bolis2 and i2a!ery are to the 6ld 4esta2entK 4his subLect is addressed in detail in another cha ter of this volu2e. At this oint 0e 0ill si2 ly add so2e co22ents on a fe0 other considerations. Sym%olism9s literary role* A valid rule of Scri ture inter retation is that a !iven assa!e should be inter reted literally unless there is evidence
%* See cha . (" 5Interpretin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2. %%

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation of sy2bolic or fi!urative lan!ua!e resent. For 2ost biblical literature this rinci le 0orks 0ell. But 0hen confronted by a ocaly tic ro hecy" 0e 2ust reco!niNe in this kind of literature a re onderance of sy2bolic usa!e. 4hus" our a roach 2ay have to be turned around so2e0hat so as to find reasons for a literal inter retation of 2any assa!es. In any case" there are s ecific considerations 0e should kee in 2ind 0hen 0e ask" Jhy is there so 2uch sy2bolis2 in a ocaly tic ro hecy" and" 0hat are so2e !uidelines to deter2ine 0hen to e7 ect sy2bolic usa!eS Aside fro2 the fact that sy2bolis2 is a basic characteristic of this kind of literature" the follo0in! reasons co2e to 2ind. 6* E,,ective ortrayal. Sy2bol is often the 2ost convenient or forceful 0ay to ortray a 2essa!e. PA icture can re lace a thousand 0ords"P and fre1uently does" 2ore accurately and effectively than a rolon!ed verbal descri tion. Road 2a s" che2ical for2ulae" artistGs sketches" architectGs blue rints" ortraits" and scul tures are e7a2 les of Psy2bolic usa!eP that e7 ress 0hat 0ords the2selves could never ade1uately ortray. In the case of a ocaly tic literature" 0hich de icts the !reat stru!!le bet0een !ood and evil" the use of sy2bol and i2a!ery should be e7 ected. Issues of cos2ic sco e could not be set forth effectively by literal e7 ression. Here is a case 0here hu2an inability to understand the co2 le7ities of the 2oral controversy !ives reason for the use of sy2bols.. A* &ortrayal of the ,uture* Future history itself 0ould be a heno2enon difficult to describe literally in any0ay intelli!ible to the readers and hearers of the ro hecy. Revelation clai2s" of course" to unveil the future" and the 1uestion then arises" Ho0 better could the future be ortrayed than in sy2bolic ter2sS 2* Common ool sy2bols. Another e7 lanation for the use of sy2bolis2 is the fact that certain sy2bolic e7 ressions 0ere a art of IsraelGs vocabulary" a ool of co22on sy2bolic usa!e. 4hus" for e7a2 le" the e7 ressions Egypt and Babylon 0ould be readily understood in their sy2bolic i2 ort in the book of Revelation. Sym%olism9s ,luidity* By their nature" sy2bols 789 "lui$. 4hey are 0ord ictures. So2e ele2ents of this fluidity 2ay be noted= .. 4he sa2e sy2bol 2ay si!nify different thin!s in different conte7ts. For e7a2 le" the lion 2ay be used to refer to Christ ?Iion ofHudah in Rev +=+@" to the devil ?Proarin! lionP in . 8et +=;@" to Hudah ?PlionGs 0hel P in Gen ('='@" and to Assyria and Babylon ?PlionsP in Her +&=.:@. %. $ifferent sy2bols 2ay re resent the sa2e thin!. For instance" both lion and lamb re resent Christ in Revelation +. 23

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation *. 4here 2ay be a variation of sy2bols de ictin! the sa2e thin! 0ithin the very sa2e conte7t. For e7a2 le" Christ is ortrayed as both the shepher$ and the $oor into the sheep"ol$ in Hohn .&A the seven heads of the beast of Revelation .: are declared to be both seven mountains and seven .ings. :. $etails 2ay vary in 0hat are a arently the sa2e sy2bols. For e7a2 le" the four livin! creatures in ENekiel . for2 the back!round for the throne scene of Revelation (. In the for2er assa!e each creature has four faces" 0hereas in the latter assa!e each creature has only one face. But the descri tions of the faces are the sa2e in both instances. 6ther e7a2 les 0ould be the horses of <echariah .=; ?co2 are also 9=%-*@ and Revelation 9" and the olive trees in relationshi to the la2 stands as !iven in <echariah ( and Revelation ... 4he 2odern 0estern reader is rone to desire 2athe2atical e7actness 0ith res ect to sy2bolic usa!e" but such is contrary to the very nature of sy2bolis2. Jhen the fluid nature of sy2bol is understood" as illustrated above" variations and variableness should not trouble us. In fact" this fluid nature of sy2bol should itself be a deterrent to us a!ainst over-literalness in inter retation. It is i2 ortant" nevertheless" that 0e stay 0ithin the bounds of the conventional usa!e of sy2bols. Jhen inter retin! any articular sy2bol in the book of Revelation" for e7a2 le" 0e 2ust think in ter2s of the ran!e of conventional 2eanin!s. 4hen 0e do our inter retation on the basis of a 2eanin! that har2oniNes 0ith the s ecific conte7t in the A ocaly se. Sy2bolis2Gs inner reality. 6ne reason sy2bols are "lui$ is that they ortray an inner reality that functions beyond the si!nificance of the s ecific ite2 or ite2s that serve as their source. #inear e7 lains this function as follo0s= 4his is a co2 rehensive rather than a disLunctive 2ode of seein! and thinkin!. It a rehends events in ter2s of their inner structure as res onses to GodGs action. GodGs action in each e och induced a reco!niNable attern of reactions" and the ro het sou!ht to discern that attern for the sake of his readers. E!y t re2ained a distinctive na2e but it conveyed a sy2bolic richness of 2eanin! neither li2ited by the ori!inal conte7t nor scornful of it. Behind this 2ode of vie0in! 0as a distinctive ontolo!ical stance" to 0hich 0e should !ive 2ore attention than 0e usually do.%(
%( 8aul S. #inear" P6ntolo!y and Ecclesiolo!y in the A ocaly se"P New Testament Stu$ies 62 ?.'9+.'99@= '+-'9.

24

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation

E7a2 les of this dyna2ic can be easily su lied in the book of Revelation. In fact" it 0ould not be a2iss to state that this re resents the basic 2anner in 0hich sy2bolis2 functions 0ithin the A ocaly se. For e7a2 le= .. 4he sy2bols of the Pt0o 0itnessesP ?Rev ..@ have back!rounds fro2 <echariah ( and fro2 #oses" EliLah" Here2iah" and other ro hets. %. In the central ortion of the book of Revelation ?;=%-.;=%(@ lies a $ouble ortrayal of 0hat 2i!ht be called the PE7odus-fro2-E!y tG:GFall-ofBabylonP 2otif. 4he first five tru2 ets have as their back!round source the la!ues on ancient E!y t" 0hereas 0ith the si7th tru2 et the scene shifts for back!round to the River Eu hrates" the river of Babylon ?'=.(@. Iike0ise" the first five la!ues are a!ain based on the la!ues on E!y tA 0hereas 0ith the si7th la!ue the scene a!ain chan!es to the River Eu hrates ?.9=.%@. *. Jhat 2i!ht be ter2ed a PFall-of-Babylon4EliLah-on-#t. Car2elP 2otif occurs in the si7th la!ue ?.9=.%-.9@.K Here 64 back!rounds rivide a reality for the Christian co22unity that sur asses the ori!inal 2eanin!s. Je note t0o as ects of interest= .. GodGs constant care for His eo le of earlier ti2es continues 0ith the Christian co22unity" for 0ho2 Hesus Christ is Pthe sa2e yesterday and today and for everP ?Heb .*=;@. 4he conce t is inherent in the affir2ation of our IordGs bein! the Al ha and 62e!a ?.=;A %%=.*@. Indeed" the ne0 Christian co22unity" includin! that se!2ent re resented by the Asian con!re!ations that constituted HohnGs arish" 0as a !ontinuation in the line of the eo le 0ho2 God had chosen and sustained in the face of adversity and the 0iles of the devil. %. 4he Christian church re resents a heightening of all that God had done for His eo le in the ast. 5ot only is this co22unity in the line of faith" it re resents a cul2ination of GodGs ur oses and lans for His eo le. Hence" all the 2eanin!ful e7 eriences in the history of GodGs dealin! 0ith His chosen eo le in the 64 can illustrate" at least to a oint" the e7 erience that 2ay be e7 ected by Christians. And Christian e7 erience" as Lust noted" 0ill transcend those ori!inal e7 eriences or events u on 0hich the sy2bolic re resentations are based. Fro2 the fore!oin! discussion 0e see that sy2bolic back!rounds are often merge$ or blen$e$. 4his blendin! of sy2bolis2 for the i2a!ery of Revelation is" indeed" characteristic of the book. Hence" 0e e2 hasiNe
%+ See Jillia2 H. Shea" P4he Iocation and Si!nificance of Ar2a!eddon in Rev .9=.9"P ?.';&@A .+:-9%25 ;SS .;

Foundational 8rinci les of Inter retation a!ain that in each case the ori!inal 2eanin!s of the back!round 2aterials have not been destroyed. 5either is there a denial or 2ini2iNation of the historical events or situations alluded to in the i2a!ery. Rather" this blendin! of the sy2bolic back!rounds de icts a ne0 reality that transcends any individual back!round" or even the co2bination of back!rounds" so that the whole e0!ee$s the sum o" the parts.<= Su!!estions ,or interpretin! sym%olism in Revelation* As a 2atter of convenience 0e su ly the follo0in! list of su!!estions for inter retin! sy2bols in Revelation. 4his list is not co2 rehensiveA 2oreover" the inter reter should not use it 0oodenly" but should consider it a su!!estive !uide for the reader confronted by the vast and uNNlin! usa!e of sy2bolic lan!ua!e in the A ocaly se.%: .. /nderstand the sy2bol for 0hat it is= a Fi!ure or si!n that is fluid and re resentative in nature. %. Reco!niNe the reasons for usin! the sy2bol in the articular assa!e and conte7t under study. 2* Discover as ,ar as possi%le t$e source?s@ of the sy2bolis2" notin! the ori!inal meanin! and any derived meanin!s ,or t$e co22unity no( usin! it* (. Consider the sy2bol fro2 the stand oint of the kind of literature 0here it occurs >apo!alypti! for the book of Revelation" a literature that is characteriNed by a cos2ic eschatolo!ical e2 hasis" strikin! contrasts" etc.@. +. 5ote the relationshi of the sy2bol to the 2ain the2e bein! treated. For instance" the 2essa!e of any one of the seven tru2 ets 2ust be co2 atible 0ith the broader the2e of the entire seven-tru2 ets vision. 9. Consider the sy2bol 0ithin its i22ediate literary conte7t or te7tual settin!. 4here 2ust be co2 atibility at this level too. :. Inter ret the sy2bol in relationshi to its conventional usa!e. Its recise 2eanin! ?0ithin the ran!e of its conventional usa!e@ is to be deter2ined by the the2e bein! treated and in har2ony 0ith the i22ediate te7tual settin!Kthe rinci les enunciated in nu2bers + and 9 above. ;. Jhen lookin! for the historical a lication" take care not to Ptailor%9 In this 0hole rocess so2ethin! $as occurred 0hich" lo use Austin FarrerGs ter2inolo!y" 2i!ht be called Pa rebirth of i2a!es.P ?4his" in fact" is the title of his co22entary" Rebirth o" Images, The )a.ing o" St. #ohn+s po!alypse N0loucester' #A" .':&U.@ 4here is 2ore than rebirth, ho0ever. Jhile rebirth 2i!ht ertain si2 ly to individual i2a!es and ossibly also to co2binations" the2ef!2! or #oidlin!to 0hich attention has Lust been called involves a dyna2ic 0herein broad !ra hic re resentations !et us to the heart of the !reat ontolo!ical and soteriolo!ical realities of 54 theolo!y 0hich are vital and of concern for the on!oin! life and service of the Christian church. %: 4his listin! is al2ost verbati2 fro2 Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, %'.

26

t6undational Fnnc4 4es o44nier retation ma#e5 history to fit preconceived ideas o, ($at t$e application o, t$e messa!e s$ould %eJ rat$er' let t$e messa!e itself %e t$e !uide to the historical fulfill2ent. '. $o not seek to find an a lication for every detail of an e7tended sy2bolis2A instead" !et the 2ain icture or lesson. 8arts of sy2bolic resentations often si2 ly round out the icture. .&. Reco!niNe that the e7tent of a sy2bolic resentation 2ay vary fro2 a si2 le 2eta hor to an e7tended alle!ory and that the 2eanin! of a s ecific sy2bol 2ay vary in different conte7ts.

&urpose and T$eme o, Revelation


4o deter2ine the ur ose and the2e of a !iven book of the Bible is one of the basic rocedures of sound biblical inter retation. 4his holds true for the Revelation" as 0ell as for any other Bible 0ritin!. As a rule" co22entators are careful to note clues indicatin! the 0riterGs ur ose and the2e. But insufficient care has too fre1uently been !iven in this res ect to the book of Revelation. Iet us see 0hat the A ocaly se itself tells us. Revelation9s &urpose 4he ur ose of the book of Revelation is set forth clearly in its rea2ble= P4he revelation of Hesus Christ" 0hich God !ave hi2 to sho0 to his servants 0hat 2ust soon take lace...P ?.=.@. In vie0 of this e7 licit state2ent it is re2arkable that so2e co22entators clai2 Revelation has nothin! to say about events future to HohnGs ti2e. 4hey su!!est that the A ocaly se is si2 ly a beautiful icture of Christ and the ideals that e2er!e fro2 that icture. A beautiful icture of Christ is indeed resented throu!hout the Revelation" but to deny the bookGs stated ur ose to disclose future events contradicts its o0n assertion. Revelation9s T(o,old T$eme RevelationGs t0ofold the2e elaborates on the ur ose of the ro hecy. As stated in both the rolo!ue and e ilo!ue" the the2e is as follo0s= Behold" he TChristU is co2in! 0ith the clouds" and every eye 0ill see hi2"... PI a2 the Al ha and the 62e!a"P says the Iord God" 0ho is and 0ho 0as and 0ho is to co2e" the Al2i!hty. ?.=:-;@ Behold" I TChristU a2 co2in! soon" brin!in! 2y reco2 ense" to re ay every one for 0hat he has done. I a2 the Al ha and the 62e!a" the first and the last" the be!innin! and the end. ?%%=.%-.*@ 27

ruuiTuauuimi QRRRSTRRU VW inDirpreianon

Return* 6ne 2ain focus of the book of Revelation is the second advent of Christ 6ur Iord 0ill co2e to ut an end to the rei!n of sin and sorro0" ain and sufferin!" sickness and death. And 0hen He co2es" His re0ard 0ill be 0ith Hi2Ka Lust re0ard" to reco2 ense all eo le accordin! to their deeds. His return 0ill brin! the final eradication of sin and its horrible acco2ani2ent of 2isery and 0oe" 0ill destroy the destroyers of the earth ?..=.;@" and 0ill !uarantee an eternal inheritance to those 0ho have follo0ed loyally in His footste s. Ever present But Christ is also de icted in the Revelation as bein! ever resent 0ith His faithful follo0ers durin! all their tribulations in the Phere and no0.P He is the Al ha and 62e!a" the 6ne 0ho 0as dead" is no0 alive" lives forever" and has the keys of death and Hades ?see .=.:-.;@. His victory is our victory too" even in the face of death ?cf. Rev .%=..@. 6r as ut so beautifully in the book of Hebre0s" Hesus is both the Pauthor and finisher of our faithP ?Heb .%=%" FH3@.

Literary Structure o, Revelation


Bible e7 ositors !enerally atte2 t to ascertain not only a !iven 0riterGs ur ose and the2e" but also his rocedure in develo in! that the2e. 4hus" co22entators fre1uently include an outline of the book under study. Co22entaries on Revelation usually include outlines. But 0hen 0e co2 are the2" 0e find the 2aLority to be inconsistent 0ith each other and fre1uently inco2 atible 0ith the te7t of Revelation itself. So2e outlines that differ fro2 one another are nonetheless 2utually co2 atible" as I have ointed out else0here" 0hereas other outlines ?and this is the 2aLority of the2@ si2 ly 0ill not fit into a coherent attern.%; It is not our purpose to call attention to t$e variety o, outlines availa%le in commentaries today* Rat$er' (e (is$ to brin! into focus a s ecific outline t$at e#er$es direct%y fro# the text of &eve%ation itsel". Subse1uently" (e (ill notice ot$er literary patterns (it$ an important bearin! on ho0 t$e Apocalypse s$ould %e interpreted* A Literary C$iasmus Je 2ust let the book itself !ive us the clues for its outline. Jhen this rocedure is follo0ed" a beautiful broad literary attern for the entire book
%; See 2y discussion in Interpreting the Bou. o" Revelation, **(.. A variety of outlines are called to the readerGs attention. See also the A endi7 essays on . 9+" :+-:'.

2"

indeed e2er!es fro2 the te7t. It takes the for2 of a !hiasmus, that is" a attern ?@ inverse parallelism. 4he su ortin! data for the outline cannot be !iven in detail here" but a fe0 observations de2and 2ention. 4here is a 2aLor structural division bet0een cha ters .( and .+. A rolo!ue and four 2ain visions recede that dividin! line" and four 2ain visions and an e ilo!ue follo0 it. 4he rolo!ue and e ilo!ue arallel each other. 4here is a si2ilar arallelin! ?in inverse order@ of the visions fro2 the first division of the book 0ith the visions of the last division. See dia!ra2 in cha ter % of this volu2e. Je see that the visions rior to the break at the end of cha ter .( deal ri2arily 0ith the Christian Era. 4he visions after that break are focused on the era of eschatolo!ical Lud!2ent. The visions of the first art of the book reveal that the church is defective" GodGs saints are ersecuted" and the forces of evil are havin! a heyday. "y contrast" the visions be!innin! 0ith cha ter .+ reveal a Pturnin! of the tables"P so that there is !lorious victory for GodGs saints and doo2 for the erst0hile o0ers that lorded it over the2. 4he visions u throu!h cha ter .( 2ay be characteriNed as the Phistorical era"P and those thereafter as the Peschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent era.P In the for2er" the cry !oes forth fro2 the souls under the altar" P& Soverei!n Iord" holy and true" how long be"ore thou wilt Au$ge an$ avenge our blood on those 0ho d0ell u on the earthSP ?9='-.&@. In the latter 0e find a counter art in the accla2ation" Phe TGodU has Au$ge$ the !reat harlot... an$ he has avenge$ on her the blood of his servantsP ?Rev .'=%@. In the scenes of the first 2aLor art of Revelation" visions %" *" and ( reveal a succession of events or develo 2ents that reach to and include ChristGs second advent. 4hus the last ite2 in each series takes us to the final eschatolo!ical cli2a7. 5evertheless" the events rior to that cli2a7 deal s ecifically 0ith the historical era. Because of this ri2ary e2 hasis they 2ay be desi!nated ro erly as Phistorical-eraP visions. In the second half of the book the visions the2selves consistently 2anifest the ers ective of the eschatolo!ical Lud!2ent 5evertheless" they include t0o kinds of 2aterial that ertain to the historical era= ?.@ e0planations, 0hich necessarily 2ust be fro2 the ro hetGs o0n oint in ti2e in order to be understood by hi2 and his readersA and ?%@ appeals, 0hich obviously 2ust be a lied
%' For a 2ore e7tensive study of the literary arran!e2ent of Revelation and its i2 act on inter retation" see the ne7t t0o cha ters by the sa2e author" P4he Ei!ht Basic 3isionsPA and P G3ictoriousIntroductionG Scenes.P See so2e of the authorGs other resentations= Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, (*-+%A PA ocaly tic 8ro hecy and the Church"P t. ." in )inistry, 6ctober .';*"%%-%*.

2.

l4Ounoauonal &rinciples ot Iritei retation

in the eriod before hu2an robation closes if they are to be heeded. Hese are not Pcross-oversP in the visions ro er" for the eschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent settin! of the visions the2selves is invariable" be!innin! 0ith the seven last la!ues and continuin! throu!h subse1uent events until the !lorious cli2a7 is reached in the ortrayal of the 5e0 Herusale2 and ne0 earth. Jhen 0e consider this chiastic structure of Revelation" 0e i22ediately see that it ali!ns 0ell 0ith the t0ofold the2e stated in the rolo!ue and e ilo!ue. 4he first 2aLor art of the book ?cha s. .-.(@ deals 0ith the era in 0hich the Al ha and 62e!a is the rotector and sustainer of His eo le in s ite of trial and ersecution that 2ay co2e their 0ay. 4he second 2aLor art of the book" be!innin! 0ith cha ter .+" deals 0ith escha-tolo!ical Lud!2ents that cluster around and center in the consu22ation of the a!e= ChristGs second advent. Determinin! Revelation9s Literary Arran!ement 4he broad chiastic structure that enco2 asses the 0hole book of Revelation is vital in its theolo!ical i2 lications. For one thin!" it underscores the ro hecyGs t0ofold the2e noted above. #ore i2 ortantly" the sche2e enables the inter reter to reco!niNe the ro er lace2ent and e2 hasis to be !iven to the bookGs s ecific theolo!ical the2es or 2otifs. Conse1uently" 0e can e7a2ine 2ore closely the rocedure by 0hich this chiastic structure 0as ascertained" a rocedure that should !uide in the discovery of all biblical literary atterns. Derived ,rom t$e te t* 4he oint of central i2 ortance" one that cannot be overe2 hasiNed" is that the te0t itsel" must be the source for" and the !uide to deter2inin! literary structure. In develo in! the attern outlined above" no other consideration 0as involved" for ro er her2eneutic re1uires that 0e dra0 out of the te7t its attern. Even the e7istence of the 2aLor chias2 had to be seen in the te7t of Revelation itself. 5ot 2any scholars had considered the ossibility of a chiastic structure in Revelation until 2y o0n iece-by- iece discovery of it over a eriod of years durin! the decade of the .'+&s. 4oday" various researchers are no0 alert to it" includin! C. #. #a70ell" 0ho has utiliNed 2y outline 0ith sli!ht ada tations as the basic structure of Revelation in volu2e % of his 'o$ (ares.BC In the rocess of discovery" certain arallelis2s in the te0t itsel" .ept confrontin! 2eA these eventually led to the outline described above. &arallel sections* Althou!h the reader is referred else0here to the
*& See n. *.

3$

rbundationa4Fnnci 4es 6FInler retaiioh su ortin! data for the outline 0e have resented" *. a fe0 observations should be 2ade here. First" in order to be !enuinely arallel counter arts" the visions 2ust !ive evidence of ronounced si2ilarity in ite2s 2entioned" in broad basic conte7ts or settin!s. Isolated si2ilarities are not i2 ortant in this re!ard. But 0hen there are clusters of si2ilarities" then 0e take seriously the ossibility of chiastic counter arts. For e7a2 le" a nu2ber of e7 ositors have noticed such clusters bet0een the rolo!ue and e ilo!ue. In each of these short sections 0e find 2ention of the bookGs 2essa!e as bein! sent by an an!el and ertainin! to thin!s that 2ust soon co2e to ass ?.=.A %%=9@" reference to Hohn as reci ient of the vision ?.='A %%=;@" 2ention of the PchurchesP ?.=(-9A %%=.9@" and ronounce2ent of a blessin! on those 0ho heed the 2essa!es ?.=*A %%=:@" as 0ell as the state2ent of the t0ofold the2e noted earlier ?.=:-;A %%=.%-.*@. Most e positors reco!niFe t$at t$e description of the 5e0 BerusalemXne( eart$ in t$e ,inal c$apters o, Revelation recall ?as fulfill2ent@ the promises made to t$e overcomers in t$e 2essa!es to the seven c$urc$es in t$e initial c$apters* Si2ilarities bet0een the PdoubletP visions ?0hat 0e have called the PE7o-dusfro2-E!y tP>VGFall-of-BabyWonP 2otif@ fre1uently have been noted= such as si2ilar tar!ets for the tru2 ets and la!ues ?earth" sea" rivers" and s rin!s" etc.@" and 2otif and verbal arallels bet0een cha ters .%-.( and .:-.; ?a 0o2an in eachA sevenheaded" ten-ho2ed ani2alsA ronounce2ents of the fall of BabylonA etc.@. $es ite a reco!nition of such si2ilarities. Revelation scholars have not' !enerally" discerned ho0 they arallel each other in a chiastic 2anner. Iess fre1uently observed by co22entators is the chiastic arallel bet0een Revelation (=.-;=. and .'=.-%.=(. But these t0o sections also have clusters of si2ilarities. 4hey both have a settin! in 0hich God is seated on a throne" surrounded by four livin! creatures and t0enty-four elders. In this settin! they both have si2ilar accla2ations and anthe2s of raise to 0od and the Ia2b. In the latter vision the res onse co2es to the 2artyrsG cry in the for2er vision" relatin! to GodGs PLud!in!P and Paven!in!P the2. A rider on a 0hite horse is ortrayed in both visions. Joe co2es to the Pkin!s of earthP and other s ecified !rou s. Reference is 2ade to the blessin!s of GodGs d0ellin! 0ith +is eo le and P0i in! a0ay all tears fro2 their eyes"P etc. Surely such an abundance of si!nificant si2ilarities bet0een t0o visions
31 Sec chap. 4 in Strand, Interpretin0 the Boo& of Revelation, 45#47.

*.

4oulFIa4llonarranci Ies or4nter retation

indicates that they are counter arts. Jhen laced in osition 0ith other airs of visions that have si2ilar relationshi s >as in$i!ate$ in the bibli!al te0t itsel"5, the overall chiastic structure of Revelation a ears. Ot$er C$iasms in Revelation Revelation also contains chiastic literary atterns other than the 2aLor one 0e have discussed. 4hese 2ay e2brace 2ulti le cha ters" cover one cha ter ?Rev .;" for e7a2 le@" or occur in even shorter sections. Here 0e resent one of these as an e7a2 le. It e2braces certain ite2s and a ar ticular dyna2ic in cha ters .%-%&. #any e7 ositors believe a basic dividin! line in the A ocaly se occurs bet0een cha ters .. and .%. 6ne reason is that cha ters .% and .* introduce 0hat a ears to be a ne0 ele2ent= na2ely" the antidivine trinity of dra!on" sea-beast" and earth-beast. Should the book be divided" therefore" at this oint rather than bet0een cha ters .( and .+S It is clear fro2 the biblical te7t that the visions u throu!h cha ter .( are indeed Phistorical-eraP ones ?0ith three of the2 cli2a7in! in ChristGs second advent@" 0hereas the subse1uent visions are laced in a settin! after hu2an robation has closed. Ho0ever" the very ortrayal of the antidivine trinity lus PBabylonP and the beast-0orshi ers reveals a chias2. In this series the entities de icted enter the scene durin! the historical era in the order of= .. $ra!on ?cha . .%@. %. Sea-beast and earth-beast or Pfalse ro hetP ?cha . .*@. *. Babylon ?.(=;@. (. Beast-0orshi ers ?.(='-..@. 4hey 2eet their doo2 durin! the eschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent era in the e0a!t reverse or$er of= (. Beast-0orshi ers ?.9=%@. *. Babylon ?.9=.'-.;=%(@. %. Sea-beast and false ro het ?.'=%&@. +. $ra!on ?%&=.-.&@. 4he si!nificant oint to notice here is that the dividin! line bet0een the era 0hen they have soverei!nty and 0hen they 2eet their doo2 co2es recisely 0here the chiastic break occurs for the entire book= at the close of cha ter .(. &atterns Revealin! SeIuence In the historical era section of the book of Revelation there is a literary attern re eated at least three ti2es. It starts 0ith cha ter ( and ends 0ith
32

B9))))auu)"l Y WSWSZ[\U vn. iii(ipiuiin(ii

cha ter .(. 4his fourfold attern ?or series of atterns@ 2ay be illustrated as in the chart on a!e *(. In the first three visions of the Peschatolo!ical-Lud!2entP era ?Rev .+%.=(@ series" a si2ilar sort of fourfold attern e7ists" ada ted" of course" to 0hat is a ro riate for that articular era. 4hou!h it is beyond our sco e to outline those visions" (e note that the second section in the2 2ay be ter2ed P4he Hud!2ental 8ro!ression"P and the third section rovides PA eals.P *% In su22ary" 0e ri!htly conclude that Revelation has a re2arkable balance in its literary atterns. As a final note" 0e should observe that the introductory scenes to the ei!ht visions are set in a te2 le conte7t or e2brace te2 le i2a!ery.** It 0ill suffice to oint out that this Pte2 le settin!P for the P3ictorious-IntroductionP scenes rovides one of the 2eans by 0hich RevelationGs stron! Pvertical continuityP is de icted. Literary Structure and Interpretation Jhile other factors besides the literary structure of the A ocaly se i2 act on its inter retation" a sound rocedure of study 2ust not e7clude
Reca itulation Se1uences in Revelation (-.( Seals ?(=.-;=.@ .. 3ictorious 3ision GlMu2 ets ?;=%-..=.;@ Contestin! Forces ?..=.'.(=%&@

4hrone Roo2" X Ia2b Incense #in!led Jorthy to 6 en the Jith 8rayers of Scroll ?(=.-+=.(@ Saints ?;=%-+@

6 en 4e2 le" Jith Ark of 4esta2ent 3isible ?..=.'@

%. 4he Historical 8ro!ression

First si7 Seals ?9=.-.:@ First si7 4ru2 ets ?;=:- Evil Forces Attack GodGs '=%.@ 8eo le ?.%=.-.*=.;@

*. S otli!ht on Iast Events

Sealin! of .(("&&&A Great #ultitude ?:=..:@ Seventh Seal ?;=.@

An!el X ScrollA 4he Redee2ed .(("&&&A 4e2 le X 40o the 4hree An!elsG Jitnesses ?.&=.-..=.(@ #essa!es ?.(=.-.%@

(. Glorious Cli2a7

Seventh 4ru2 et ?..=.+-.;@

Harvest of Earth ?.(=.(%&@

*% See cha s. %-* in this volu2e 0ith their acco2 anyin! dia!ra2s.

33

its in ut. In fact" the basic structure and other atterns 0e have indicated above rovide i2 ortant !uidelines for inter retation. First" the literary structure indicates that any inter retation that 2akes the 2essa!es of the Revelation either entirety histori!al or entirely es!ha-tologi!al is incorrect" for the book is divided into 2aLor arts that are historical and eschatolo!ical" res ectively. Second" no absolutely straight-line metho$ of inter retation settin! forth a co2 letely se1uential chain of events or develo 2ents is valid" 0hether this be fro2 the reterist" continuous historical ?historicist@" or futurist oint of vie0. For if the book is indeed to be divided at the end of cha ter .( into historical and eschatolo!ical divisions" this literary chiastic arran!e2ent renders sus ect any inter retation that brid!es the dividin! line 0ith a continuin! Plock-ste P se1uence of events. 4his is true 0hether that se1uence is looked u on as 2eetin! fulfill2ent in the ancient 0orld" in a continuous strea2 of events do0n throu!h the Christian Era" or in a yet future series of events. 4hird" the evidences for reca itulation in Revelation ?co2 are the arallelin! literary structures noted above@ 2ake it reasonable to assu2e that 0ithin each 2ain art of the A ocaly se the sa2e !eneral !round is covered in repeate$ se1uences ?at least in so2e reca itulationary or overla in! 2anner@. 4hus" the same histori!al era or setting is vie0ed fro2 different ers ectives or in differin! as ects in the four visions that for2 the first division of the book. Fourth" 0e 2ust inter ret a !iven section of 2aterials accordin! to their location in the bookGs 2aLor chiastic structure. For e7a2 le" the so-called Pa2illennialP osition that e1uates the thousand-year eriod in Revelation %& 0ith the Christian Era is ne!ated by the fact that Hohn laces it s1uarely 0ithin the Peschatolo!icalLud!2entP series of visions. Finally" it 2ust not be overlooked that the division of the book into t0o 2aLor arts 0ith arallelin! subsections can !uide us to0ard a ro er inter retation of s ecific assa!es. 4hus" 0henever a assa!e in one division of Revelation is understood" it can rovide clues to0ard the 2eanin! of the correlative assa!e in the other division of the book.

34

C$apter ] T$e Ei!$t "asic Visions^


Fenneth A. Strand % - Ohe book of Revelation is a re2arkably 0ell-constructed literary Y iece" containin! a 2ulti licity of neatly intert0inin! atterns. )X. Such atterns are 2ore than si2 ly de2onstrations of aesthetic taste and co2 ositional skill" and they also transcend the useful ur ose of servin! as 2ne2onic devices. Indeed" in a forthri!ht and forceful 0ay they hi!hli!ht various as ects of the bookGs theolo!ical 2essa!e. In broadest sco e" the entire A ocaly se is structured into an overall chiastic attern in 0hich rolo!ue and e ilo!ue are counter arts and in 0hich the intervenin! 2aLor ro hetic se1uences or visions are also aired in a chiastic or inverse order. 4his broad chiastic structure and its si!nificance I have treated on several revious occasions" . and they need no further elaboration for our ur oses here" e7ce t to notice t0o s ecific features= ?.@ Aside fro2 the rolo!ue and e ilo!ue" there are eight 2aLor ro hetic se1uencesKfour that recede and four that follo0 a line dra0n bet0een cha ters .( and .+. ?%@ 4he visions recedin! the chiastic dividin! line have basically a historical ers ective ?that is" they relate to the Christian Era@" and the visions after the chiastic dividin! line de ict the eschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent era. Jith res ect to the first ite2 above" it should be e2 hasiNed that there are indeed eight 2aLor ro hetic se1uences in the A ocaly se" not seven"

Y Re rinted %y er2ission" '(SS A3 ?.';:@" .&:-.%." under t$e title" 5T$e Ei!$t Basic 3isions in t$e "oo# o, Revelation*5 . E!." editions o, The )pen Gates of *eaven ?Ann Arbor" Ml' 6767 and .':%@ and o, its successor" Interpreting the ook o" &eve%ation E8ort$in!ton' O+' .':9" and Naples' &L' .':'@A also 5Apocalyptic &rop$ecy and t$e Church"P t ." in )inistry, Octo%er .';*" %%-%*. Sec es ecially t$e discussion in +nterpretin$ :2-36 and t$e dia!ra2 on +%. T$e e7act divisions %et(een blocs of te t in t$e A ocaly se $ave in several instances been 2odified sli!htly in the resent article fro2 the 0ay t$ey have been !iven in earlier ublications.

35

f'

as various inter reters have assu2ed- Concernin! the second ite2" several 1ualifications should be noted= In the second throu!h fourth visions" each historical se1uence concludes 0ith a section that ortrays the ti2e ofescha-tolo!ical Lud!2entA and in the subse1uent visions" 0hich in their essence furnish an enlar!e2ent on that eschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent era" there are t0o kinds of 2aterial that ertain to the historical eraKe7 lanations ?0hich 2ust obviously be 2ade in ter2s of the ro hetGs o0n ers ective in history@A and e7hortations or a eals ?0hich have value only rior to the escha-tolo!ical Lud!2ent and 0hich 0ould" of course" be 2eanin!less at the ti2e of the final eschatolo!ical Lud!2ent itself@. 4hese 1ualifications concernin! Pe7ce tionsP to the 2ain thrust or covera!e of the visions on each side of the chiastic dividin! line should not" ho0ever" be considered as PcrossoverP Dia!ram 6* T$e C$iastic Structure III I3 (=.-Z=. GodGs 6n!oin! Jork of Salvation ?: Seals@ ;=%-..=.; 4ru2 et 5,rnin!s ?: 4ru2 ets@ ..=.'-.(=%& Evil 8o0ers 6 osin! God and His Saints

II

8rolo!ue l=l-.&a

l=.&b-*=%% PChurch #ilitantP ?Church on Earth= the : Churches@ O

PE7odusP>PFall-of-BabylonP #otif O

<
% Such inter reters $ave a arently dra(n the conclusion that because PsevenP is a si!nificant num%er sy2bol in Revelation Koccurrin!" for instance" in four e7 licit se tets ?the churches" seats" tru2 ets" and bo0ls@Kthere is also su osed to be a total of seven basic visions. For e amples of the sevenvision approac$' sec Ernst Ioh2eyer" "ie D""enbarung $es #ohannes ?4ubin!en" .'%9@A Hohn Jick "o(man' The &rama o" the Boo. o" Revelation ?8hiladel hia" .'++@" and PRevelationP in +" , :;6:63J and 4ho2as S. Fe ler" The Boo. o" Revelation ?5e0 Kor#' .'+:@. Ioh2eyer and "o(man ,ind se tets" as (ell' 0ithin all of their seven 2aLor visions" thou!h t$ey lac# a!ree2ent even as to these seven visions the2selves. Fe ler on ?he other hand" finds only a total of ten subsections ?called PscenesP@ 0ithin his seven 2aLor visions ?2aLor visions 0hose te7tual boundaries vary only sli!htly fro2 the seven 2aLor visions outlined by Bo02an@.

36

4he Ei!ntGBasic 3isions 2aterials. 4hese data are i2 ortant arts of their o0n se1uences" are in ro er osition as they stand" and s eak si!nificantly to the conte7ts in 0hich they are found. #oreover" they are discrete and 2eanin!ful units as to nature" lace2ent" and>or ur ose" 0ithin their o0n s ecific visions. For convenience" the co2 rehensive chiastic structure of Revelation into rolo!ue" e ilo!ue" and ei!ht visions is set forth in outline for2 in dia!ra2 ." 0hich includes also 2y su!!estions as to the te7tual boundaries and !eneral to ics of the various visions. In this dia!ra2 and throu!hout the re2ainder of the discussion in this article" the ter2 PvisionsP 0ill refer to these ei!ht co2 lete ro hetic se1uences" not to individual visionary e7 eriences of lesser e7tent. Also" Ro2an nu2erals 0ill be used to identify the visions in se1uence. o, t$e "oo# o, Revelation
3 3I .+=.-.9=.: .9=.;-.;=%( Bo0l 8la!ues Evil 8o0ers ?4he P: Iast Hud!ed by God 8la!uesP@ 3II 34II

.'=.-%.=( GodGs Hud!2ent Finale ?ChristGs %nd Advent" the PE7odusP>PFatl-of-BabylonP #otif #illenniu2" the Jhite E r 4hrone Hud!2ent@ %

%.=+-%%=+ PChurch 4riu2 hantP ?P5e0 Heaven and 5e0 EarthPA Holy City" 5e0 Herusale2@

E ilo!ue %%=9-%.

4he resent study has t0o 2ain ur oses" and the data ertainin! to each of these 0ill be resented in se arate articles= First" the resent essay analyNes briefly so2e arallel atterns in the ei!ht 2aLor visions of the book of Revelation. 4hen a follo0-u article * 0ill focus a bit 2ore intensively on the articular blocs of te7t that introduce these ei!ht visions and 0hich can be desi!nated as Pvictorious-introduction scenes"P inas2uch as
* 4his a ears as cha . * in this volu2e.

37

A)lXLa!Ill D+S+* V6S6))S

they rovide for each vision a settin! 0hich ortrays in dra2atic fashion GodGs resent care for His eo le and !ives assurance of ulti2ate victory for ChristGs saints or Ployal ones.P R@r ur oses of identification in the resent article" Ro2an nu2erals ?I" II" etc.@ 0ill continue to be used" as in dia!ra2 ." for desi!natin! the ei!ht visions. Each vision" ho0ever" has either t0o or four 2ain sections or blocs of te7t" and ca ital letters ?A" B" etc.@ 0ill serve as identifiers for these.

6* An Analysis o, &atterns 8it$in t$e Ei!$t Visions


4he first and the final visions ?I and 3III@ of the A ocaly se are co2osed of a P3ictorious-Introduction SceneP ?A@" lus one further 2ain bloc of te7t ?B@ that 2ay be called the PBasic 8ro hetic $escri tion.P 4he other si7 visions ?II-3II@ have these sa2e t0o blocs" but 0ith the addition of t0o further blocs ?C and $@. Dia!ram A* &arallelin! Structures
A B I 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene II III I3 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

C$

Interlude

Interlude

Interlude

Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination

Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination

Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination

3"

4he Ei!nt Basic3is4ons

In this essay" the third blocs of te7t in the second throu!h seventh visions are throu!hout !iven the basic ca tion of PInterludePKa ter2 1uite re!ularly a lied by the e7e!etes for these articular sections in visions II" III" and I3" but e1ually a licable to the corres ondin! ?but 2uch shorter@ sections in visions 3" VI' and 3II. It should be noted" ho0ever" that althou!h the ter2 PinterludeP fre1uently su!!ests an interru tion to" or hiatus 0ithin" the flo0 of thou!ht" 0hat these third blocs of 2aterial do in visions II-3II of the A ocaly se is to enhance or intensify the thrust of the i22ediately recedin! 2aterial. ( 4he fourth bloc can be desi!nated as the PEschatolo!ical Cul2inationPA and in a certain sense" both it and the recedin! PInterludeP are actually an e7tension of the PBasic 8ro hetic $escri tionP be!un in the second bloc. Althou!h it (ill %e necessary later in t$is article to add certain ,urt$er refine2ents to t$e fore!oin! %asic analysis' at this point (e 2ay summariFe in dia!ram ,orm t$e results reac$ed thus far. Suc$ a su22ary is provided in dia!ra2 %. in Revelation4 Ei!$t MaGor Visions

))))E))))))))[\)))))))yn))))))[\\\
3 3I 3II 3III 3ictorious-Introduction victorious-Introduction 3ictorious-Introduction 3ictoriousScene Scene Scene Introduction Scene

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion

Interlude

Interlude

Interlude

C $

Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination

Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination

Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination

3ictorious-]3ictorious-3ictoriousIntroduction Introduction
A B

3ictorious-Introduction I Introduction

( 8aul S. #inear has s oken oi!nantly to this 2atter in connection 0ith the PinterludeP 0hich occurs at .9=.+. See belo0" n. ' and the 1uoted 2aterial to 0hich that note refers.

3.

666C Bul!)l "WS+C VISI)IIS

A* Summary o, Contents o, t$e Visions


At this Luncture it is useful to take an overvie0 of the content of each of the ei!ht visions. 4he su22aries !iven here follo0 the broad lines of structure indicated above. It should be e2 hasiNed that these are indeed summaries, and the reader can fill in details by consultin! the te7ts indicated for each of the visions.

T$e +istorical Visions Vision I' l;6M%-2;AA


"loc A" Victorious-Introduction Scene" l=.&b-%&. Christ a ears to Hohn on 8at2os as the ever-livin! and all- o0erful 6ne" 0ho 0alks a2on! the seven !olden candlesticks that re resent the seven churches. "loc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' c$apters A and 2* Christ !ives 2essa!es of raise" rebuke" 0arnin!" and e7hortation to the individual churches as their varyin! conditions re1uire.

Vision II* :;6-_;6


"loc A' Victorious-Introduction Scene' c$apters : and 3* Hohn sees a throne set in heaven" 0ith a sea of !lass and seven la2 s of fire before the throne" and 0ith four livin! creatures and t0enty-four elders surroundin! the throne. In a dra2atic and sus enseful scene the declaration is 2ade that the slain Ia2b alone is able to take fro2 the hand of the 6ne seated on the throne a seven-sealed scroll and to break the seals and o en the scroll. 4he Ia2b then takes the scroll" and anthe2s of raise ascend fro2 the four livin! creatures" the t0enty-four elders" and the entire universe. "loc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' c$apter 6* 4he first si7 seals of the scroll are broken" 0ith the result that four horse2en !o forth" souls under the altar utter a cry of PHo0 lon!P until there is Lud!2ent and vindication for the2" and si!ns are !iven on earth and in heaven of i2 endin! Lud!2ent. Bloc C' Interlude' c$apter :. 4he se1uence is Pinterru tedP to focus on the sealin! of .(("&&& durin! the end-ti2e.
4$

4he Ei!Bt Basic,3lsions "loc $" Eschato lo!ical Culmination' ;=.. 4he seventh seal is o ened" at 0hich there is Psilence in heavenP for the duration of half an hour. Vision III' =;A-66;6= "loc A' Victorious-Introduction Scene' ;=%-9. Seven an!els 0ith tru2 ets a ear" and another an!el !oes to the !olden altar and there offers incense 0hose s2oke" 2in!led 0ith the rayers of the saints" ascends to God. 5e7t" the an!el fills a censer 0ith live coals fro2 the altar and thro0s this u on the earth" resultin! in the Lud!2ent sy2bols of voices" thunder" li!htnin!" and earth1uake. "loc "' "asic 8ro hetic $escri tion" ;=:-'=%.. 4he first si7 tru2 ets are blo0n" releasin! forces of devastation that e2brace the sy2bolis2s of a stor2 of hail u on the earth" a !reat burnin! 2ountain thro0n into the sea" etc. 4he first five of these tru2 ets dra0 i2a!ery fro2 the la!ues on ancient E!y t" but the si7th tru2 et shifts the back!round to Babylon by 2ention of the P!reat river Eu hratesP in '=.(.+ "loc C' Interlude' 6M;6-66;62* An an!el holdin! an o en scroll announces ?.&=9@ that Pthere should be ti2e no lon!erP ?FH3@A or" as alternatively translated" Pthere should be no 2ore delayP ?RS3@. 9 Hohn is co22anded to eat the scroll and does so" findin! it s0eet in his 2outh but bitter in his sto2achA the ro het is then instructed to 2easure the te2 le" altar" and eo le ?a direct allusion" as I have sho0n else0here" to the year-end $ay of Atone2ent ritual in the ancient He0ish cultusA and the testi2ony and career of the t0o 0itnesses are described.
+ 4he heno2enon encountered here 2ay be ter2ed the PE7odus-fro2-E!y tP>PFall-of-BabylonP moii,* It occurs t0ice" in eac$ instance e2bracin! t0o co2 lete visions. 4he first occurrence is Rev ;=%-.(=%& inclusive" and the second is Rev .+=.-.;=%( inclusive. For further detail and a dia!ra2" see D* A Strand" P4he 40o Jitnesses of Revelation ..=*-.%"P ;SS .' ?.';.@= .%;-%'. 6 T$e difference in rendition is not really as si!nificant as 2i!ht at first a ear. 4he assa!e is an obvious allusion to the book of $aniel that 0as to re2ain sealed until Pthe ti2e of the endP ?$an .%=(A cf. Rev .&=%@ and to the 1uery by $aniel" P/ntil 0hen... SP ?$an .%=9@. Either translation of this articular state2ent in Rev .&=9 fits 0ell as a res onse to the 1uestion raised by Daniel' and indeed is an e2 hatic rocla2ation of the arrival of the end of the ti2e eriod roLected K Pa ti2e" t0o ti2es" and half a ti2eP ?$an .%=:@. 4he 0ree# of this last clause of Rev .&=9 reads" hou .ronos ou.eti estai. ?Cf. the Puntil 0henP in $an ;-..*.@ : F. A. Strand" PAn 6verlooked 6ld-4esta2ent Back!round to Revelation ..=."P ;SS %% ?.';(@= *.:-%+. (.

666C ui!lll O+MC V ISI)IIS

Bloc D' Eschatolo!ical Culmination' ..=.(-.;. 4he seventh tru2 et is blo0n" resultin! in the announce2ent that Pthe kin!do2 of the 0orld has beco2e the kin!do2 of our Iord and of his ChristPA ; then an anthe2 of raise arises" e2 hasiNin!" a2on! other thin!s" that the ti2e has co2e for Lud!2ent of the dead" for re0ardin! the saints" and for destroyin! the Pdestroyers of the earth.P Vision IV' 66;67-6:;AM "loc A" Victorious-Introduction Scene' 66;67* PGodGs te2 le in heaven 0as o ened"P 2akin! visible Pthe ark of his covenantPA then Pflashes of li!htnin!" voices" eals of thunder" an earth1uake" and heavy hailP occur. "loc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' c$apters 6A and 62* 4he dra!on" leo ardlike sea beast" and t0o-horned earth beast ersecute GodGs eo le. "loc C' Interlude' 6:;6-62* Hohn sees ?.@ the Ia2b and the .(("&&& victorious saints standin! on #t. <ion" and ?%@ three an!els flyin! in heaven and roclai2in! 0arnin! 2essa!es. "loc D' Eschatolo!ical Culmination' .(=.(-%&. EarthGs t0ofold harvest is rea edK?.@ the harvest of !rain" and ?%@ the !ra es that are thro0n into the !reat 0ine ress of GodGs 0rath.

T$e Esc$atolo!ical-Bud!ment Visions


Vision V' 63;6-66;6< "loc A' 3ictorious-Introduction Scene' .+=.-.9=.. 4he victorious saints stand on the sea of !lass and sin! the Son! of #oses and the Ia2bA and 0hen the Pte2 le of the tent of 0itness in heavenP is o ened" seven an!els co2e forth and receive seven bo0ls Pfull of the 0rath of God"P s2oke fills the te2 le so that no one can enter till the la!ues of the seven an!els have been co2 leted" and finally instruction is !iven to the an!els to !o their 0ays and our out the bo0ls. "loc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' 66;A-6:* 4he first si7 bo0ls of 0rath are oured out" 0ith devastatin! effects on earth" sea"
; Hereinafter the RS3 0ill be used for En!lish renditions of the biblical te t' 0ith the ossible e7ce tion of brief t0o- or three-0ord e7cer ts.

42

T$e Ei!$t "asic Visions rivers and fountains" etc. ?A!ain" as in the tru2 ets se tet" i2a!ery for the first five bo0ls is atterned after the la!ues on ancient E!y t" 0ith the scene shiftin! to Babylon as the si7th bo0l refers to the P!reat river Eu hratesP in .9=.%.@ "loc C' Interlude' .9=.+. Into the descri tion of the si7th bo0line dryin! u of the Eu hrates and the resence of de2onic s irits that deceive the kin!s of the earth and lead the2 to the Pbattle on the !reat day of God the Al2i!htyP ?.9=.%-.(@Kis inserted a strikin! 2acaris2 in verse .+= PIo" I TChristU a2 co2in! like a thief. Blessed is he 0ho is a0ake. . . .P 4hen follo0s an added co22ent to the effect that the lace of the battle is called PAr2a!eddonP ?vs. .9@. Since 0e have no0 2oved into the section of the A ocaly se that rovides visions of the eschatolo!ical Lud!2ent" rather than ertainin! to the historical era" it is obvious that a ne0 sort of PinterludeP can be e7 ected" as is indeed the case here. 4he earlier interludes 0ere so2e0hat detailed $es!riptions of events or conditions durin! a final ortion of the historical era. 4he interludes that occur in visions 3-3II are rather of a cris " hortatory nature. 4he 1uestion 2ay be asked. Jhy such interludes hereS For this articular one in Revelation .9=.+" 8aul S. #inear has a tly ointed out" P4he sayin! reveals the terrible dan!er in 0hich the unsus ectin! Christian stands. If one asks 0ith R. H. Charles" BHo0 could anyone slee throu!h the cos2ic earth1uakes 0hich 0ere ha enin!SG one 2ay ans0er" G4hat is Lust the oint.G 4here 0ere Christians aslee " so Hohn believed" 1uite undisturbed by din or doo2" una0are that anythin! 0as ha enin! that could threaten their treasure or leave the2 e7 osed and naked. 4o be aslee 0as to be unconscious of the ur!ent necessity of the ti2e. ?Co2 are the disci les in Geth-se2aneK#ark .(=%9-(%.@ 4he beatitude 0as desi!nated for sentinels 0ho had for!otten that a 0ar 0as bein! fou!ht.P' "loc D' Esc$atolo!ical Culmination' 66;6<* 4he seventh bo0l of 0rath is oured out" and there issues fro2 the throne in the te2 le in heaven the declaration" PIt is doneVP
' 8aul S. #inear" > Saw a New Earth ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'9;@" .+&. (*

4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions Vision VI' 66;6=-6=;A: "loc A' Victorious-Introduction Scene' 66;l=-6<;2a* 4he traditional si!ns of Lud!2ent occur ?voices" thunder" li!htnin!" earth1uake" and hail@" and P!reat BabylonP co2es into PLud!2ental re2e2branceP before God. Hohn is then taken into the 0ilderness to see this Lud!2ent u on Babylon. "loc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' 6<;2%-6=;2* A descri tion of Babylon as a harlot and also of the seven-headed and ten-ho2ed scarletcolored beast u on 0hich she rides is introduced in the early verses of cha ter .: ?vss. *b-;@. 4his descri tive scene is follo0ed by considerable e7 lanatory detail ?vss. '-.;@ that cul2inates in a reference to the devastation of the harlot by the beastGs ten horns ?vss. .9-.:@ and the identification of this harlot as the !reat city that rules over earthGs kin!s ?vs. .;@. In the first three verses of cha ter .;" a recital of various as ects of BabylonGs corru tion sets the sta!e for the interlude a eal and the descri tion of destruction that follo0. Bloc C' Interlude' .;=(-;"%&. Before the actual ortrayal of BabylonGs devastation throu!h fire" an a eal is 2ade for GodGs eo le to Pco2e outP of Babylon" so that they do not beco2e artici ants in her sins and reci ients of her la!ues. In this connection there is also a reiteration" in elaborated for2" of GodGs decree of Lud!2ent a!ainst Babylon. Inas2uch as in the chiastic structure of the 2aterial in cha ter .;" verse %& is a chiastic counter art of verses (-;" .& both of these PinterludesP 0ithin this articular chias2 should robably be considered as the total PinterludeP for the lar!er se1uence fro2 .:=*b-.;=%(. 3erse %& !ives a call for reLoicin! over the fact that God has roclai2ed a!ainst Babylon herself the Lud!2ent 0hich she had i2 osed u on GodGs eo le... Bloc D' Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination" .;='-.'"A6-A:* 4he central
.& See Jillia2 H. Shea" PChias2 by T$eme and by For2 in Revelation FS,6 ;SS %& ?.';%@= %('-+9A and Fenneth A. Strand" P40o As ects of BabylonGs Hud!2ent 8ortrayed in Revelation .;"P ;SS %& ?.';%@= +*-9&. .. See Strand" G40o As ects of BabylonGs Hud!2ent"P ++-+'A and for an u dated" 2ore literal rendition of Rev .;=%&b" see id." PSo2e #odalities of Sy2bolic /sa!e in Revelation FG,6 ;SS %( ?.';9@= (*-(+. In the back!round of both Rev .;=(-; and vs. %& is the la0 of 2alicious 0itness ?cf. $eut .'=.9-.'A also see Esth :='-.&@. 44

4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions

section of cha ter .; ?vss. '-.'@ ortrays" throu!h a threefold dir!e" BabylonGs utter desolation by fireA and the final section of the cha ter ?vss. %.-%(@ e2 hasiNes BabylonGs doo2 and her utterly desolate condition after GodGs Lud!2ent u on her. Vision VII' 67;6-A6;: "loc A' 3ictorious-Introduction Scene' .'=.-.&. In a heavenly settin! that arallels the settin! !iven in cha ter (" anthe2s arise in raise of God for His havin! Lud!ed the !reat harlot Babylon and vindicated GodGs eo leA then reference is 2ade to the Ia2bGs bride bein! ready for the 0eddin!" and a blessin! is ronounced u on those 0ho are Pinvited to the 2arria!e su er of the Ia2b.P ?It should be noted that thou!h the heavenly te2 le settin! of cha ters (-+ and cha ter .' is the sa2e" there is difference 0ith res ect to activity and ers ectiveKa fact also 2ade clear by the content of the anthe2s in the t0o visions. 4he for2er vision ertains clearly to the historical era" and this one ertains Lust as clearly to the era of eschatolo!i-cal Lud!2ent. Bloc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' .'=..-%&=+. ChristGs second advent is dra2atically ortrayed" and conse1uences of it are !iven. A2on! the ne!ative results enu2erated are the birdsG feast consistin! of the ene2ies of God ?.'=.:-.;@" the lake-of-fire fate for the beast and false ro het ?.'=.'-%&@" and the i2 rison2ent of Satan in the Pbotto2less itP or PabyssP for a thousand years ?%&=.-*@. 6n the ositive side is the first resurrection" in 0hich the 2artyred saints arise. 4hey then live and rei!n 0ith Christ for a thousand years ?%&=(-+@. "loc C' Interlude' %&=9. PBlessed and holy is he 0ho shares in the first resurrectionV 6ver such the second death has no o0er....P "loc D' Esc$atolo!ical Culmination' %&=:-%.=(. 4he cul2inatin! events at the end of the thousand years are set forth. 6n the ne!ative side are the loosin! of Satan" the resur!ence of his dece tive 0ork" the vain effort of his evil confederacy to ca ture Pthe ca2 of the saints"P and the final fiery destruction of this confederacy. 6n the ositive side is HohnGs vision of Pa ne0 heaven and a ne0 earth"P 0ith the holy city 5e0 Herusale2 descendin! fro2 heaven to earth" and God Hi2self taberna-clin! 0ith His eo le.
45

4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions Vision VIII' A6;3-AA;3 "loc A" Victorious-Introduction Scene' A6;3-lla* 4he rocla2ation is 2ade that ChristGs victorious ones 0ill inherit all thin!s" and Hohn sees the holy city 5e0 Herusale2 descend fro2 heaven to earth. ?As a backdro " the final section of the recedin! vision has already ortrayed the condition on earth after the descent of the 5e0 Herusale2 T%.=.-(U.@ "loc "' "asic &rop$etic Description' A6;ll%-AA;3* 4he holy city 5e0 Herusale2 is described in detail.

2* 1urt$er Analysis o, Te t-"locs A' "' C' and D


Jith the fore!oin! back!round" 0e 2ay no0 roceed to so2e further !eneraliNations concernin! the nature of the res ective sections ?A" B" etc.@ 0ithin the ei!ht visions. Also" 0e can su!!est additional notations for the ca tions to these blocs of te7t" beyond 0hat has already been indicated in the earlier sections of this article and in dia!ra2 %. As 0e consider the P3ictorious-Introduction SceneP for each of the ei!ht visions" 0e find that there is al0ays a basic te2 le settin! and>or te2 le-i2a!ery back!round of so2e sort..% 4herefore" our ca tion of P3ictorious-Introduction SceneP ?bloc A@ can no0 be su le2ented 0ith the hrase" PJth 4e2 le Settin!.P As for the second throu!h fourth blocs of te7t ?blocs B" C" and $@" a difference in ers ective should be noted bet0een the visions recedin! the chiastic dividin! line ?visions I-I3@ and the visions follo0in! it ?visions 3-3III@. Jith res ect to the for2er" the PBasic 8ro hetic $escri tionP is
.% In so2e cases the te2 le in heaven is 2entioned e7 licitly" as in the introductory scenes to visions I3 and 3A and in other cases" the allusion to te2 le furniture !ives evidence of a te2 le settin!" even thou!h t$e 0ord Pte2 leP does not occur" as in Ihe scenes for visions I' II" and III* 4he only introductory scenes that do not have so obvious a clue to te2 le i2a!ery are those for visions VI and VIII* In the case of the for2er" there is" ho0ever" in the recedin! verse ?.9=.:" ihe final bo0l la!ue" but also a Ps0in! cle2entP to 0hat follo0s@ the 2ention of a voice Pout of the te2 le" fro2 the throne.P 8it$ res ect to vision VIII' there is reference to the 6ne 0ho Psat u on the thronePidentified earlier as God in +is le2 le ?cf." e.!." (=%-..A .'=.-+@A and 2oreover" the i22ediately recedin! bloc of te t ?a!ain a sort of Ps0in! ele2entP@ refers to 0od as Ptabernaclin!P in the Pne0 earthP>P5e0 Herusale2P 0ith His eo le ?%.=*@. Additionally it should be noted that the follo0in! bloc of te7t" or PBasic 8ro hetic $escri tionP for vision VIII' states that the te2 le in the holy city 5e0 Herusale2 Pis the Iord 0od the Al2i!hty and the Ia2bP ?%.=%%@. My second article in this series 0ill elaborate on the nature and theolo!ical si!nificance of t$e te2 le i2a!ery that a ears in the introductoiy scenes to the ei!ht 2aLor visions of the A ocaly se.

46

4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions 0ithin the historical arenaA 0ith res ect to the latter" the basic vision 2aterial in the B blocs ertains to the eschatolo!ical or final Lud!2ent. For visions I-iy therefore" the PBasic 8ro hetic $escri tionP needs the added 1ualification Pin HistoryPA and for visions 3-3III that 1ualification 0ould be Pin Final Hud!2ent.P As for the third blocs of te7t ?C@" in visions II-43 the basic desi!nation of PInterludeP 2ay like0ise be su le2ented 0ith an additional hraseK PS otli!ht on Iast EventsP ?2eanin! rior to ChristGs second advent@" inas2uch as the PInterludeP in each instance enlar!es on the eriod of ti2e Lust before the eschatolo!ical cul2ination. For visions 3-3n the added hrase PE7hortation or A ealP is a ro riate" for the terrors of the final-Lud!2ent scenes are Pinterru tedP in order to !ive short blocs of te7t settin! forth encoura!e2ent to faithfulness and>or a eals for re entance. ?In t0o of these instances of e7hortation or a eal" the interlude is cast" as 0e have already seen" basically in the for2 of a 2acaris2K .9=.+ and %&=(.@ 4he sections on PEschatolo!ical Cul2inationP ?the $ blocs@ all ertain to the final eschatolo!ical consu22ation" as noted earlierA but those concludin! sections for visions ^-I3 rovide a cli2actic conclusion to series that relate to the historical era" 0hereas those for visions 3-3II deal s ecifically 0ith the final or ter2inatin! ortion ofeschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent series already in ro!ress in the earlier sections of those visions. Blocs $ for visions II-I3 2ay therefore be desi!nated as PEschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to HistoryPA and the $ blocs for visions 3-3II 2ay be ter2ed PEschatolo!ical Cul2ination= 4he Hud!2ent Finale.P $ia!ra2 * ?on the ne7t a!e@ incor orates the above-2entioned refine2ents to the data !iven in dia!ra2 %" and also includes 2y su!!estions as to the te7tual boundaries for the blocs of 2aterial as set forth in the second section of the resent article.

:* Conclusion
In this article" 0e have observed that there is a very consistent and balanced literary structure in the book of Revelation. 4his structure not onfy has aesthetic and 2ne2onic values or 1ualities" but also s eaks si!nificantly to the theolo!ical 2essa!e of the book. 3arious as ects of the theolo!y 0ill be dealt 0ith in a follo0-u article that 0ill e7 lore in further detail the Pvictorious-introduction scenesP to the ei!ht visions" but one si!nificant theolo!ical focus 2ay be 2entioned here= 4he broad chiastic structure itself e2 hasiNes a t0ofold the2e that e2braces and under!irds the various 2essa!es of the bookK?.@ that Christ is Al ha and 62e!a" and
47

4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions

Dia!rams* Overvie( o, Structure

Historical-Era 3isions I II III I3 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?l=.&b-%&@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?cha s. % X *@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?cha s. ( X +@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?cha .9@ Interlude= S otli!ht on Iast Events ?cha . :@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to History ?;=.@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?;=%-9@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?;=:-'=%.@ Interlude= S otli!ht on Iast Events ?.&=.-..=.*@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to History ?..=.(-.;@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?..=.'@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?cha s. .%".*@ Interlude= S otli!ht on Iast Events ?.(=.-.*@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to History ?.(=.(-%&@

C$

?%@ that He 0ill return at the end of the a!e to re0ard all ersons accordin! to their 0orks ?Rev .=:-; and %%=.%-.*@. In other 0ords. +e is a consistent" trust0orthy" and ever- resent hel and su ort to His faithful ones durin! this historical era of adversity for the2 ?cf. Rev .=.:-.;A #att %;=%&bA Hohn .9=**A Heb .%=%aA .*=;@A and He 0ill ersonally return to usher in the series of events that destroy the Pdestroyers of the earthP and that rovide to His loyal follo0ers the inheritance of the Pne0 earthP and the fulfill2ent of all the !ood ro2ises 2ade to the2 ?see Rev ..=.+-.;A %.=.-(":"%%-%:A %%=.+@.l_4he four ro hetic se1uences recedin! the chiastic dividin! line deal ri2arily 0ith the first as ect" and the four 2aLor visions subse1uent to that
.* It is note0orthy that the ite2s of ro2ise 2ade to the Poverco2ersP or Pcon1uerorsP in the seven churches ?%=:b" lit`" .:b" %9-%;A and *=+".%"%.@ are for the 2ost art 2entioned a!ain s ecifically in %.=+-%%=+ as fulfilled ?e.!." %.=%:A %%=%"(@" as 0ell as bein! alluded to in a !eneral 0ay in the state2ent that the con1ueror 0ill inherit Pthese thin!sP ?%.=:@.

4"

4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions

and Content o, t$e Apocalypse

Eschatolo!ical-Hud!2enl-Era 3isions 3 3I 3II 3III 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?.+=.-.9=. Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?.9=%-.(".9@ Interlude= E7hortation or A eal ?.9=.+@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Hud!2ental Finale ?.9=.:@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?.9=.;-.:=*a@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?.:=*&-.;=*@ Interlude= E7hortation or A eal ?.;=(-;"%&@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Hud!2ental Finale ?.;='-.'.%.-%(@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?.'=.-.&@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?.'=..-%&=+@ Interlude= E7hortation or A eal ?%&=9@ Eschalolo!ical Cul2ination= Hud!2ental Finale ?%&=:-%.=(@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?%.=+-. la@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?%.=llb-%%=+@ C$

dividin! line are devoted 2ainly to the second as ect. In closin!" one further ite2 2ay also be briefly introduced here= It is note0orthy that in the introductory scenes of the ei!ht visions" the te2 le i2a!ery reveals a attern of first an earthly venue in vision I ?candlesticks that re resent churches on earth@" follo0ed by a heavenly venue in visions II-3II ?either TaU an e7 licit 2ention of the Pte2 le in heavenP or its furniture and>or TbU a back!round that indicates this heavenly settin!@" .( and follo0ed finally by a return a!ain to an earthly venue in vision 3III ?God tabernaclin! in the Pne0 earth45e0 Herusale2P Tcf. %.=*"%%U@. 4his is a strikin! heno2enon" 0hose theolo!ical si!nificance and 0hose correlation 0ith e2 hasis in !eneral 54 theolo!y 0ill be set forth in the subse1uent article in this series.
6: Concernin! the a arent e7ce tion in the case of vision VI' see n. .%" above. :7

C$apter ]@ Victorious-Introduction4 Scenes`


Fenneth A. Strand
% H ,his cha ter is a follo0-u to 2y earlier essay on the basic literary ] structure of the ei!ht 2aLor visions of the book of Revelation. . For B the sake of convenient reference" dia!ra2 * of 2y revious article is here re roduced ?on the follo0in! a!es@ as dia!ra2 . for the resent article. 4he blocs of te7t u on 0hich our attention focuses in this study are those desi!nated PAB in this dia!ra2A na2ely" those carryin! the ca tion ,Glorious-Introduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin!.P 8e first take an overvie0 of the content of these scenes for visions I throu!h 3III" and then consider so2e of the s ecific heno2ena and theolo!ical i2 lications.

6* Summary o, t$e 5VictoriousIntroduction Scenes5


In rovidin! the follo0in! overvie0 of the content of the ei!ht victorious-introduction scenes" I furnish here both a su22ary of the te7tual 2aterial itself and a fe0 reli2inary co22ents concernin! this 2aterial. It should be noted in these su22aries that not all details of the scenes are includedA% ho0ever" recedin! the su22aries the2selves" the a ro riate Scri ture references are resented ?as also set forth in dia!ra2 .@" and the reader can !o to the biblical te7t itself for a 2ore co2 lete icture.
9 Reprinted ,y pemassmn, ;SS <I ?.';:@" %9:-;;" under the title" P4he G3ictorious-IntroductionG Scenes in the 3isions in the "oo# of Revelation.P . Fenneth A. Strand" P4he Ei!ht Basic 3isions in the Book of Revelation"P ;SS %+ ?.';:@= .&:-.%." reprinted as cha . % o, t$is volume* % Herein the su22aries are" nevertheless" in various instances 2ore e7tensive t$an the arallelin!" but !enerally very brief" su22aries rovided in ibid." ..%-.: ?0hich see also ,or su22aries of t$e contents of blocs "' C' and $ in the various visions@.

+.

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes

Dia!ram 6* Overvie( o, Structure

A
Historical-Era 3isions I II III I3 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?l=.&b-%&@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?cha s. % A*@ C$ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?cha s. ( X +@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?cha .9@ Interlude= S otli!ht on Iast Events ?Cha .:@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to History ?;=.@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?;=%-9@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?;=:-'=%.@ Interlude= S otli!ht on Iast Events ?.&=.-..=.*@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to History ?..=.(-.;@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?..=.'@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in History ?cha s. .%".*@ Interlude= S otli!ht on Iast Events ?.(=.-.*@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Cli2a7 to History ?.(=.(-%&@

Introduction to Vision I Te t; Revelation l;6M%-AM Summary; Oo the island of8at2os ?.='@" t$e resurrected" $eavenly C$rist appears in !lorious vision to Hohn" revealin! +imsel, as the one ($o (as dead" no( lives' is alive forever" and $as t$e #eys o" ha$es and deat$* Hohn sees C$rist holdin! seven stars in $is ri!ht $and and 0alkin! amon! seven !olden lampstands* 4he seven stars are de,ined as 5t$e an!els o, t$e seven churchesP ?vs. %&@" and t$e seven la2 stands are de,ined as Pthe seven churchesP ?.=..@Knamely' E hesiis" Smyrna' 8er!a2u2" T$yatira' Sardis" 8hiladel hia" and Laodicea ?vs. ..@. Comment; 4he fact that the la2 stands are te2 le i2a!ery is 52

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes

and Content o, t$e Apocalypse

A Eschatolo!icat-Hud!2ent-Era 3isions 3 3I 3II 3III 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?.+=.-.9=.@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?.9=%-.(".9@ Interlude= E7hortation or A eal ?.9=.+@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Hud!2ental Finale ?.9=.:@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Sellin! ?.9=.;-.:=*a@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?.:=*b-.;=*@ Interlude= E7hortation or A eal ?.;=(-;"%&@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Hud!2ental Finale ?.;='-.'"%.-%(@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?.'=.-.&@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?.'=..-%&=+@ Interlude= E7hortation or A eal ?%&=9@ Eschatolo!ical Cul2ination= Hud!2ental Finale ?%&=:-%.=(@ 3ictoriousIntroduction Scene Jith 4e2 le Settin! ?%.=+-lla@ Basic 8ro hetic $escri tion in Final Hud!2ent ?%.=llb-%%=+@ C$

!enerally reco!niNed by the e7e!etes" thou!h there has been difference of o inion as to the recise back!round. 4he 1uestion usually raised is 0hether that back!round is the one la2 stand in the Pholy laceP ?outer or first a art2ent@ of the ancient 0ilderness tabernacle ?E7od %9=*+A in Hen74s te2 le there 0as also one la2 stand@ or the ten la2 stands in the first a art2ent of Solo2onGs 4e2 le ?. F!s :=('@. A third alternative" !enerally 2issed by the co22entators" is the la2 stand sy2bolis2 of <echariah (" 0hich lays a very obvious role as back!round for a later vision in the A ocaly seKRevelation .." Pthe te2 le and t0o 0itnesses.P * 6r there 2ay be intentional 2ulti le back2 T$ere are theolo!ical overtones 0hich favor lookin! u on the <echariah Pla2 standP as at least

53

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes !rounds.( 4he 2ain oint for us here" in any case" is that the settin! of this vision and its te2 le i2a!ery is on earth, not in heaven. 4his fact is clear fro2 t0o 2ain considerations= that the heavenly Christ 2eets Hohn on earth ?at 8at2os@" and that the Pla2 standsP a2on! 0hich Christ 2anifests His resence are churches on earth. 4he fact that the ne7t vision indicates a transition to heaven" as (e shall see in our attention to that vision" 2ay be considered a third evidence ointin! in the direction of the earthly venue of this first introductory scene. A further note0orthy oint is that this victorious-introduction scene functions to rovide co2fort and assurance to ChristGs faithful follo0ers= His resence is a2on! the2 as they face the 2i!hty forces of dece tion and ersecution.+ posione robable source for the i2a!eiy. See Dennet$ A* Strand" 5T$e Two 8itnesses of Revelation ..=*-.%"P ;SS .' ?.';.@A .%:-*+" es ecially . .*.-*(A and cf. id." P4he T(o Olive 4rees of aec$aria$ : and Revelation II"P ;SS %& ?.';%@= %+:-9.. 5ot only should certain theolo!ical affinities be noted" but also consideration should be !iven to the further back!rounds ?beyond <echariah (@ for the olive trees>la2 stands i2a!eiy of Rev ..=(K na2ely" the Hachin-and-BoaN te2 le illars ?cf. 6 D!s :=%.A also % F!s ..=.%..( and %*=.-*@" and beyond the2 t$e P illar of cloudP in ($ic$ the Iord a eared to Moses and Hoshua at the PentranceP to the 0ilderness tabernacle ?$eut *.=.(-.+@. If the back!round ,or the seven la2 stands in vision I of Revelation lies in this direction" it is t$e court" rather than either of the t0o roo2s of the tabernacle>te2 le ro er" that 0ould %e in focus $ere ?a ossibility 0hich is en$anced by a consideration of the theolo!ical i2 lications of Rev ..=% re!ardin! the Pouter courtP of the te2 le@. Ho0ever" 0e 2ust not overlook the ossibility that there are multiple back!rounds for this seven-la2 stand sy2bolis2" as 0ell as for other i2a!ery in the book of Revelation. Cf. n. (" belo0. : &aul S* #inear" P6ntolo!y and Ecctesiolo!y in the A ocaly se"P NTS .* ?.'9+>.'99@= '9" has called attention to this 2ulti le-back!round ty e of heno2enon in 0hat he refers to as a Ptrans-historical 2odelP and Pa co2 rehensive rather than a disLunctive 2ode of seein! and thinkin!.P Both in that article and in his > Saw a New Earth ?Jashin!ton" $C" .'9;@" .&%" $e 2akes reference to Rev ..=;" 0here there is a coalescin! of several entitiesKSodo2" E!y t" and Herusale2 - into one i2a!e" the P!reat city.P #inear su!!ests that this Pone city had beco2e in ro hetic ter2s all cities-Sodo2" E!y t" Babylon" 5ineveh" Rome*..P >I Saw a New Earth, .&%@. In various a ers and essays I have further elaborated the heno2enon" referrin! to it as the Pblendin!P or P2er!in!P of i2a!es. See' e.!." 2y PAn 6verlooked Old 4esta2ent Back!round to Revelation ll=l"P-(t>++ %%?.';(@= *.;-.'" 0herel not only refer to #inearGs erce tive re2arks ?es . n. 9 on . *.'@ but also furnish so2e added e7a2 les. Cf." as 0ell" the discussion of Strand" G40o Jitnesses"P .*&-*." ($ere still another illustration $as been rovided. + $ece tion and ersecution are the t0o basic 0ea ons 2anifested by the adversarial forces throu!hout the book of Revelation" Lust as in the Gos el of Hohn these same t0o evil characteristics su22ariNe the attitude of the devil and his follo0ers ?e.!." in Bo$n ;=(( the devil is called Pa 2urderer fro2 the be!innin!P and Pthe father of liesP@. Je find ro2inent illustration in the A ocaly se in the 2essa!es to the seven churches" 0here there is 0arnin! a!ainst $e!eption ?0hether e7ternal or self-i2 osed@ in the letters to 8cr!a2u2" 4hyatira" Sardis" and IaodiceaA and 0here the dan!er o" perse!ution is articularly hi!hli!hted in the letters to S2yrna and 8hiladel hia. 4he activities of the antidivine trinity in Rev .%-.* further forcefully e7e2 lify these de2onic 0ea ons ?notice" for instance" the $e!eptive Psi!nsP and the $eath an$ embargo activities 2entioned in .*=.*-.:@.

54

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes "ive as ect of this sort is indeed characteristic of all ei!ht of the introductory scenes for the 2aLor visions of the A ocaly se. Introduction to Vision II Te t; :;6-3;6: Su22ary= Bo$n sees an o en door 5in $eaven5 and $ears a voice beckonin! hi2 to 5come u hither.P +e t$en is immediately 4in the S iritP and sees Pa t$rone5 5in $eaven'5 (it$ one seated u on t$e throne ?na2ely" 0od' as t$e conte7t itself and also ,urt$er visions o, Revelation 2ake clear Tcf. :;7-66J <;6MJ .'=.-+U@. Surroundin! the throne 0ere t0enty-four elders seated on thronesA %e,ore the t$rone (ere 5seven lamps of fireP and a crystal-like Psea o, !lass5J and 5in t$e midst ofP and ParoundP the throne 0ere ,our livin! creatures. A,ter an ant$em of raise to 0od for +is creatorshi " t$e scene turns to a seven-sealed scroll in His $andKa scroll 0hich Pno one5 in heaven" on earth" or under t$e eart$ 0as a%le to o en. Ho0ever" in t$e ro!ression of t$e drama' one "ein! 0as found 0orthy to o en that scroll.namely' t$e Ia2b Pas t$ou!$ it $ad %een slain*5 As t$e Lam% too# t$e scroll fro2 t$e ri!ht $and o, t$e One sittin! on t$e throne" a series o, ant$ems of raise ensued* Comment; 4he first strikin! feature that confronts us in this scene is the double reference to a ne0 venueKheaven" as contrasted to the earthly settin! of the introductory scene to vision I 4his heavenly settin! is" in fact" e2 hasiNed by the double reference to PheavenPKthe o en door Pin heavenP and the throne Pin heaven.P 4he Pseven la2 s of fireP 0ould locate the settin! 2ore s ecifically as the Pholy laceP or outer a art2ent of the te2 le in heaven ?the ter2 Pte2 le in heavenP is used s ecifically in ..=.' and certain other te7ts@.9 If the Psea of !lassP is
9 4he te2 le-furniture i2a!eiy furnishes clues to locale and to 2ove2ent that 0ere touched u on in the su22aries in 2y revious article ?PEi!ht "asic 3isions"P ..%-.:@" %ut 0hich 0ill beco2e 2ore a arent as 0e continue here to roceed throu!h the victorious-introduction scenes. Althou!h t0o a art2ents are not s ecifically 2entioned in conLunction 0ith this Pte2 le-in-heavenP archety e of the ancient Israelite tabernacle and te2 le" the PfurnitureP t$at is 2entioned does relate to t0o such Proo2sP -as kno0n not only fro2 the OTand traditional He0ish sources but also fro2 the descri tion in the NT book of Hebre0s ?see +c% 7;6-3J cf. E od %+=; and %9=*&-*+@. It 2ay a ear that the resence of the throne in the conte t of Pouter-a art2entP i2a!ery in Rev ( reduces the heavenly te2 le to but one roo2 ParchitecturallyP ?even thou!h not functionally@" but such isnotneccssarilythe case ?or in any event"is not of ri2e i2 ortance@.

55

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes

i2a!ery based on the PlaverP of the 0ilderness tabernacle ?E7od *&=.;A *;=;@ or the P2olten seaP and>or ten lavers of the Solo2onic 4e2 le ?. F!s :=%*-*'@" as various co22entators su!!est" (e a ear to have Pouter-courtP i2a!ery rather than Pfirst-a art2entP i2a!ery. 4his in itself 0ould not ose a roble2 0ith res ect to the seaGs bein! desi!nated as Pbefore the throne"P for all facets of the te2 le construct could be considered fro2 that ers ective. #ore likely" ho0ever" the sy2bolic back!round for this Psea of !lassP is the Pfir2a2entP over the heads of the livin! creatures and under GodGs throne in ENekiel .=%%-%; and .&=..: 4his heavenly scene in Revelation (-+ obviously has a ositive thrust. 4he t0in the2es of creation ?(=..@ and rede2 tion ?cha . +@ !ive ho e and assurance to ChristGs follo0ers" es ecially as they reco!niNe that the Ia2b is adLud!ed 0orthy to break the seals and o en the scrollKa scroll 0hich has a ro riately been called a Pscroll of destiny.P;
See ,urt$er in n* .." %elo(* 1or a veiy $elp,ul discussion of Pheavenly temple5 i2a!ery in t$e %oo# o, +e%re(s Ea discussion ($ic$ $as a considera%le de!ree o, relevance also ,or the ApocalypseH' see Ric$ard M* DavGdson' Typo%ofy in S!ripture, Stu$y o"""ermeneuti!al bc]de Structures, Andre0s )niversity Seminary $octoral $issertation Series" vol. % E"errien S rin!s" #I" 67=6H' 226-6<* < Ro%ert f* #ouncc" !*ie ook of &eve%ation, NICNT' .: E0rand Rapids' .'::@A .*9-*:" has a tly noted t$is' and $as also called attention to A Enoc$ *=* and &s .&(=* ? . 626H' t$ou!$ it is not clear ($et$er Mounce hi2self actually considers t$e i2a!ery o, these passa!es as back!round ,or t$e Psea o, !lass5 in Revelation. 1or a recent detailed and compre$ensive analysis of the ima!ery o, Rev (-+" sec R* Dean Davis' P4he +eavenly Court Scene o, Revelation (-+P E&$*D* dissertation" Andre(s /niversity" .';9@. ; PScroll of destiny5 and Pbook of destinyP are ter2s a lied by various e e!etcs and co22entators to t$is seven-sealed docu2ent Many 0ho do not use t$is e7act ter2inolo!y indicate t$e same conce t in t$eir discussion of t$e scroll. Ed0in R* T$icle' )ut%ine Studies in Revelation, rev. ed* E"errien Sprin!s' MI' .'+'@" ': Epa!ination may vary in other editions@" s ecifically utiliFes the ter2 5%oo# o, destiny*5 C$arles M* Iay2on" The ook o" Revelation, +ts .essa$es an$ )eaning ?5e0 Kor#' 676MH' ::" re,ers to t$e scene in Rev 3 as the P re aration ,or destiny5J and #ounce" 6:A' spea#s of the scroll as containin! Pthe ,ull account o, ($at 0od in $is soverei!n 0ill has deter2ined as t$e destiny o, t$e (orld*5 +o(ever' a funda2ental Iuestion re2ains= Jhat is meant by the ter2 5destiny5C Is it eart$9s ,uture $istory fro2 Bo$n9s perspectiveC On the other hand" is it t$e eschatolo!ical re0ards t$at are meted out at the ter2ination o, eart$9s historyS Or is it ossibly a co2bination o, %ot$C 8illiam +endri#sen*More Than Con/uerors0 'n Interpretation of the ook of &eve%ation E0rand Rapids' MI' 67:MH' .&'" seems to have o ted for t$e third ossibility= 4he scroll' if le,t unopened' (ould su!!est to hi2 Pno rotection ,or 0od9s c$ildren in t$e hours o,%ittertrialJ no Lud!2ents upon a pcrsecutin!(oridJ no ulti2ate triump$ for %elieversJ no ne0 $eaven and eart$J no future in$eritanceL5 #ounce" .(%" has opted ,or t$e ,irst alternative* Alon! (it$ T$iele' ':-';". ado t t$e 2iddle alternative* #y %asis ,or this is the distinct robability ?in my vie0@ t$at the %ac#!round ,or the seven-sealed scroll is to %e ,ound in one of t$e ,orms o, an ancient Roman 0ill

56

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes Introduction to Vision III Text: :!"6 Summary; Seven an!els (it$ seven trumpets are seen %y Bo$nJ %ut %e,ore t$ey proceed ,rom t$e temple Ein $eavenH to sound t$eir trumpets' anot$er an!el appears (it$ a censer %e,ore t$e !olden altar o, incense* Min!led (it$ t$e prayers o, saints is incense ascendin! %e,ore 0od on t$e t$rone* T$en t$e censer is t$ro(n onto t$e eart$' ,ollo(ed %y typical sym%ols o, divine presence and Gud!ment; 5peals o, t$under' voices' +as$es o, li!$tnin!' and an eart$Iua#e*57 Comment; 4he settin! in this vision is once a!ain that of the te2 le in heaven" and is still also 0ithin the outer a art2ent or Pholy lace.P But the activity has no0 2oved closer to0ard the inner shrine" for the !olden altar of incense is 0here the action occurs. .& 4his scene" like the ones for visions I and II" contains the ty ical ele2ent of assuranceKin this case" the ortrayal of the saintsG rayers 2in!led 0ith incense ascendin! before God. Ho0ever" no0 in addition to this positive as ect" there is for the first ti2e also a negative one= 4he use of the Lud!2ental sy2bols of voices" thunderin!s" li!htnin!s" and earth1uake" as the censer 0ith burnin! coals is thro0n onto the earth. Introduction to Vision IV Te t; 66;67 Summary; Bo$n sees 50od9s temple in $eaven5 opened' (it$ t$e ar# o, 0od9s testament or covenant in vie(* T$en t$ere are 5+as$es o, li!$tnin!' voices' peals o, t$under' an eart$Iua#e' and $eavy $ail*5 Comment; 4his victorious introduction scene takes us to a ne0 settin! 0ithin the Pte2 le in heavenP= na2ely" into the inner
or testa2ent and also in Here2iahGs title-deed ?Her *%@. 4hiele" '+-'9" has called attention lo documentation for the conce t o, t$e Ro2an-0ill back!roundA and in addition" 0e 2ay add here a s ecific reference to one such 0ill t$at has been ut into En!lish translation by5a htali Ie0is and Meyer Re2hold" Roman (ivili2ation, vol. %" The Empire ?5e0 Mork" .'++@" %:'-;&. 7 RSV* Hereinafter Scri ture 1uotations in En!lish are fro2 the RSV' e7ce t for occasional short hrases. .& 1or a study o, the NT perspective of the relationshi of this !olden altar to the inner2ost a art2ent ?#ost +oly 8lace@" see" e.!." the discussion by Harold S. Ca2acho" P4he Attar of Incense in +e%re(s '=*,"P ;SS %( ?.';9@= +-.%.

57

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes shrine or P#ost Holy 8lace.P .. 4here HohnGs focus is on the ark of GodGs testa2ent or covenant. 6n the basis of analo!y fro2 the tabernacle on earth" the t0o 2ost si!nificant as ects relatin! to this ark 0ould be the tenco22and2ent la0 and the 2ercy seat ?cf. E7od (&=%&@. It is therefore interestin! to note that in the follo0in! P ro hetic descri tionP the si!nificant stru!!le that the Pre2nantP has 0ith the dra!on is over 0hat is re resented by these t0o features of the ark= the Pco22and2ents of GodP and the Ptesti2ony of HesusP ?Rev .%=.:@. Introduction to Vision V Te t; 63;6-66;6 Summary; Bo$n sees seven an!els $avin! the seven last la!ues o, 5t$e (rat$ of 0od*5 In a ,irst section o, t$is scene he o%serves on a 5sea of !lass min!led (it$ ,ire`` t$ose ($o had !ained t$e victory over t$e %east' over his i2a!e" and over the num%er of $is name* 4his !rou sin! Pthe son! of Moses*** and t$e son! of the Lam%*5 In t$e second section o, t$is scene"
.. Re!ardin! t$e possi%le ParchitectureP of the Pte2 le in heaven"P the follo0in! observations 2ay %e made ?cf. also n. 9" above@= ?.@ It is a ty ical notion a2on! e7e!etes that 0od9s throne is confined to the te2 leGs #ost +oly &lace' so that the outer-a art2ent i2a!ery in Rev ( 0ould si!nal that in the heavenly archety e of the ancient Israelite tabernacle>te2 le the latterGs t0o- room structure is coalesced into one roo2. An e7a2 le of this !eneral line of thou!ht is the e cellent study by Mario 3closo" P4he $octrine of t$e Sanctuary and the Atone2ent as Reflected in the "oo# o, Revelation'5 in The San!tuary an$ the tonement, Bibli!al, Histori!al, an$ Theo%o$ica% Stu$ies, cd* A. V* Jallenka2 f and J. R- Iesher ?Jashin!ton" $C" Biblical Research Institute' .';.@" *'(-(.'. ?%@ On the %asis otapossible analo!y 0ith the thou!ht e7 ressed concernin! t$e PveilP or PcurtainP in +e% .&=%& ?0ith its too-fre1uently-overiooked historical backdro of t$e rent-asunder veil in #att %:=+.@ there !oul$be in Revelation an underlyin! conce t o, one room in the heavenly temple' but the "un!tional si!nificance of the t0o-roo2 2odel is nevert$eless present in Revelation in the dyna2ic that is evident fro2 scene to scene. ?*@ An alternative su!!ested by C. #ervyn Ma (ell' 'o$(ares < ?Boise" ID' .';+@= .:." deserves notice= P4he assumption that 0od9s celestial throne is located only in the heavenly 2ost holy lace overlooks the fact t$at in Old Testament ti2es Ood9s resence 0as not al0ays confined to the 2ost holy lace %ut (as so2eti2es re resented in the holy lace.P #a70ell cites E od **=' and ENek '=*" and also refers to t$e bread of t$e 8resence in the outer roo2. ?Else0here in the resent essay I call attention to E od (&=*( and $eut *.=.(-.+" 0hich broaden the location of GodGs presence even ,urt$er*H ?(@ It 2ust be reco!niFed that localiNin! the PthroneP sy2bol in the Apocalypse ,lies in t$e face o, that bookGs o0n use of the sy2bol as a pervasive sort of sy2bol ?e.!." t$e usa!e represented in Rev 9=.9 and %%=* as co2 ared and>or contrasted 0ith that 0hich is set ,ort$ in Rev (.+@. ?+@ T$e point of ri2e i2 ortance is that the 5t$rone-o,-0od5 2otif in Revelation si!nifies the Divine &resence and authority" and is not basically an indicator of a speci,ic locale ?and certainly not P!eo!ra hicalP !on"inement35. T$e conce t is not that the 5t$rone5 Fi7es 0od9s location" %ut rather the reverse= -here 'o$is, there is the throne3 ?9@ Finally" the back!round ,rom cha s. . and .& in ENekiel" 0ith a moving throne o, 0od' should not be overloo#ed 0hen inter retin! the scene o, Rev (-+.

5"

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes

Bo$n o%serves 5t$e temple o, t$e tent o, (itness In $eaven5 opened' and seven an!els (it$ t$e %o(ls o, (rat$ e itin! t$ere,rom* T$e temple %ecame 5,illed (it$ smo#e ,rom t$e !lory o, 0od and ,rom $is po(er'5 so t$at 5no one could enter t$e temple5 till t$e seven pla!ues (ere over* T$en a voice ,rom t$e temple commanded t$e seven an!els to !o and pour out on eart$ t$e %o(ls o, t$e (rat$ o, 0od* Comment; 6nce a!ain the settin! for the vision is that of heavenK or 2ore s ecifically" the te2 le in heaven. Fro2 that te2 le the seven an!els 0ith the bo0ls of 0rath e2er!e. It is in conLunction 0ith that te2 le that a Psea of !lassP had earlier been seen ?Rev (@. And it is that te2 le 0hich is no0 filled 0ith s2oke. 4here is a ositive e2 hasis in the fact that the saints on the !lassy sea sin! the son! of #oses and of the Ia2b" Lust as ancient Israel had sun! the son! of #oses after deliverance fro2 ancient E!y tian bonda!e ?E7od .( and .+@. And there is a t0ofold ne!ative as ect in the scene= first" in that the an!els carry forth bo0ls of 0rath fro2 the te2 le in order to thro0 the2 u on the earthA and second" in that the te2 le is filled 0ith s2oke durin! the ti2e of the la!ues" so that Pno one could enter the te2 lePKa su!!estion" undoubtedly" that no 2inistration of 2ercy 0ould roceed fro2 the te2 le at that ti2e. .%

Introduction to Vision VI
Te t; .9=.;-.:=*a ?0ith .9=.: as %ac#!roundH Summary; A,ter t$e sevent$ an!el has poured $is %o(l o, (rat$ into t$e air' a loud voice 5out o, t$e temple' ,rom t$e t$rone'5 declares" PIt is done5 ?.9=.:@. ET$is can %e considered as a sort o, transitional or 5s(in!5 ele2ent ($ic$ concludes t$e seventh la!ue and introduces this ne0 victorious-introduction scene.@.* T$en immediately t$e si!ns o, divine Gud!ment
.% 4his conclusion is fortified also by the facts ?.@ that the seven la!ues the2selves are described in .+=. as the PlastP and as co2 letin! the P0rath of God"P ?%@ that the descri tion in cha . .9 of the out ourin!of this divine 0rath in the bo0ls the2selves reveals no sah>ific effect" butrather the very o osite ?cf. e.!." .9=9"'".&".(@" and ?*@ that BabylonGs Lud!2ent is described in .9=.' as bein! a Pre2e2branceP %y 0od t$at 2akes her Pdrain the cu of the fury of his 0rath.P .* T$e 2ore clear-cut division bet0een seIuences in the first 2aLor art of Revelation ?visions I-I3@ !ives 0ay in the second 2aLor art of the book ?visions 3-3III@ to t$e resence of Ps0in!P ele2ents. 4his" interestin!ly enou!h" see2s to arallel the fact that the rcca itulationary nature

5.

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes ,ollo(; 5And there 0ere ,las$es of li!$tnin!' voices" eals o, t$under' and a !reat earth1uake suc$ as $ad never been since men (ere on the eart$' so !reat 0as t$at eart$Iua#e*5 T$e city of Babylon is split a art" t$e cities o, t$e nations colla se" and !reat $ail ,alls fro2 $eaven' (it$ every $ailstone as 5$eavy as a $undred(ei!$t5 ?or 5a%out t$e (ei!$t of a talentP TFH3U@. T$erea,ter one o, t$e seven an!els $avin! t$e seven %o(ls o, (rat$ tal#ed (it$ Bo$n' ta#in! $im to see the Lud!2ent o, the !reat $arlot E"a%ylon' as t$e ensuin! ro hetic description ma#es clearH* Comment; At first si!ht" it 0ould a ear that solely a negative as ect is e2 hasiNed in this victorious-introduction scene" for it utiliNes i22ediately the Lud!2ental sy2bolis2sKin this instance hei!htened a!ain" 0ith an e2 hasis on the e7ceedin!ly fierce nature of both the earth1uake and the hail. Althou!h there is only ne!ative Lud!2ent in the devastation to co2e u on Babylon because of the Pcu of the fury of his TGodGsU 0rathP ?.9=.'A see also .:=.-%@" nevertheless" there is i2 licitly a ositive assurance for GodGs saints in this sceneKin that BabylonGs nefarious activity has no0 been ter2inated" 0ith her herself under!oin! the divine Lud!2ent for her 2isdeeds. ?Cf. .;=%& for a call to PreLoice.P@ Introduction to Vision VII Te t; 67;6-6M Summary; In t$e settin! o, t$e t$rone' t$e t(enty-,our elders' and t$e ,our livin! creatures ?cf. cha . (@" Hohn %ears t$e voice o, 5a !reat multitude in $eaven5 praisin! 0od ,or $avin! Gud!ed t$e !reat $arlot and $avin! aven!ed t$e blood of His servants upon $er* 1urt$er ant$ems o, praise are sun!" and announcement is made that t$e marria!e o, t$e Lam% $as come and that Phis Bride $as made $ersel, ready*5 A blessin! is pronounced upon those invited to 5t$e 2arria!e supper of t$e Ia2b.P Comment; 4he scene here is one that is obviously arallel to that
of the se1uences the2selves in both 2aLor arts also differ so2e0hat in t$at the Pchronolo!icalP or PsuccessionP fra2es are icss distinct in the second 2ain art. 5otice. e.!." the i2 lications that no0 ,rom the brief overvie0s !iven in Fenneth A. Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, Hermeneuti!al 'ui$elines, -ith Brie" Intro$u!tion to Jiterary nalysis, %nd ed. ?5a les" 1L' .':'@"(;-W'. %K%%

6$

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes

of Revelation (-+K0ith the throne" four livin! creatures" t0entyfour elders" and anthe2s of raise bein! basic to both.P +o(ever' 0hereas in Revelation (-+" there is a Pscroll of destinyP still to be o ened" and 0hereas also durin! the actual breakin! of the seals of that scroll in cha ter 9 there 0as a cry of PHo0 lon!P until the vindication for GodGs 2artyrs 0ould co2e ?see 9='-..@" there is in cha ter .' a strikin! reversal= there is here raise and accla2ation to God for His havin! no0 brou!ht about that vindication. In the introduction of vision 3II" there is" 2oreover" an e2 hasis on the P2arria!e su er of the Ia2bP ?vs. '@ and reverence to the Ia2bGs PBrideP ?vs. :@. 4he 0hite clothin! ?vs. ;@ is re2iniscent" of course" of the si2ilar i2a!ery in vision II 0ith re!ard to the 2artyrs of the fifth seal and the !reat 2ultitude of the PS otli!htP section ?9='-.. and :='-.:" res ectively@. It should also be noted that the se1uence in vision 3II concludes" interestin!ly enou!h" 0ith a further reference to the PbridePKna2ely" HohnGs vie0 of the Holy City" 5e0 Herusale2" descendin! fro2 God out of heaven Pas a bride adorned for her husbandP ?Rev %.=%@. Introduction to Vision VIII Te t; A6;3-lla Eand re,erence to verses 6-: as %ac#!roundH Summary; In t$e conte t o, t$e 5ne( $eaven5 and 5ne( eart$'5 (it$ 5t$e $oly city' Ne( Berusalem'5 $avin! come do(n ,rom 0od out o, $eaven' Bo$n no( %e$olds t$e one sittin! upon t$e t$rone* T$is Divine "ein!.0od +imsel, in previous visions.declares' 5"e$old' I ma#e all t$in!s ne(*5 T$en +e spea#s to Bo$n' sayin!' 58rite t$is' ,or t$ese (ords are trust(ort$y and true'5 and ,urt$er declares to Bo$n' 5It is doneL I am t$e Alp$a and t$e Ome!a****5 A t(o,old Gud!ment is declared; in$eritance o, all t$in!s ,or t$e conIuerorJ %ut destruction in t$e la#e o, ,ire' 5($ic$ is t$e second deat$'5 ,or t$ose ($o are not conIuerors* T$en one o, t$e an!els (it$ t$e seven %o(ls o, (rat$ ta#es Bo$n to a $i!$ mountain' s$o(in! $im t$e !reat city' t$e $oly Berusalem' descendin! out o,
.( 1or a valua%le study on t$e ant$ems in both assa!es" see 8illiam +* Shea" PRevelation + and .' as LiteraiyReriprocals'54)S3 %% ?.';(@= %('-+:.

9.

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes $eaven ,rom 0od and $avin! the !lory o, 0od* Comment; In contrast to the introductory scenes for visions II-3II" 0here the settin! 0as in each instance clearly still in heaven" no0 there is a backdro that has an earthly settin!Ka arallel to the situation 0ith res ect to vision I. In vision 3III" this introductory scene deals indeed 0ith a tabernacle or te2 le settin!" but 0hether the scene itself as !iven in %.=+-. la is intended to be basically fro2 the earthly ers ective or to be a transitional one fro2 heaven to earth is not absolutely clear ?nor is it of 2aterial i2 ortance to our study@. In %.=*" the declaration is 2ade" of course" that GodGs tabernacle is on earth after the descent of the Holy City ?vs. %@" and this final ortion of vision 3II 0ould see2 to rovide the settin! for our o enin! scene in vision 3III ?0hich itself" ho0ever" also re licates a descri tion of the descent of the 5e0 Herusale2 T%.=.&U@. In any case" the 2ain oint is that the focus of this introductory scene has shifted fro2 the te2 le in heaven in such a 0ay as to lace e2 hasis once a!ain on an earthly venue. 4he actual te2 le i2a!ery utiliNed 0ill be treated 2ore fully later in this article.

A* Some Implications o, t$e Structure


4he su22aries rovided in the recedin! section of this article have brou!ht to attention several ele2ents concernin! the introductory scenes to the ei!ht 2ain visions of the A ocaly se. 8ro2inent a2on! these features are the follo0in!= ?.@ the ervasiveness of te2 le i2a!ery in the settin!s of these scenes" ?%@ ositive and ne!ative thrusts 0ithin the scenes" ?*@ a certain dyna2ic or 2ove2ent both in the te2 le i2a!ery throu!hout and in the ne!ative Lud!2ent sy2bolis2 that a ears in visions III-3I" and ?(@ a s ecial si2ilarity structurally and content0ise bet0een the First and ei!hth visions. Je 0ill no0 !ive so2e0hat further attention to these ele2ents" but as a reli2inary ste 0ill first take brief notice of the kind of relationshi that the introductory scenes hold to their o0n ro hetic se1uences. Introductory Scenes and T$eir Respective &rop$etic SeIuences In any analysis of the introductory scenes for the ei!ht 2aLor visions of the book of Revelation" the lo!ical and basic first consideration is the 62

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes fact that there is a close relationshi bet0een these scenes and the re2ainder of the ro hetic se1uences 0hich they introduce. 4hus" for vision I the ortrayal of Christ as 0alkin! a2on! the seven la2 stands>churches fittin!ly recedes His counsels to those churches" and for vision II the scene 0ith the Ia2b roclai2ed 0orthy to o en the seven-sealed scroll and then actually takin! that scroll fro2 the hand of the One seated on the throne rovides an a ro riate backdro for the Ia2bGs actual breakin! o/ t e 0eal0. 4hese introductory scenes rovide in this 0ay a ositively oriented settin!Ka 2essa!e of assurance" as it 0ereKthat relates to the se1uence that ensues. In the first instance" Christ assures His eo le of His resence 0ith the2 in their stru!!les a!ainst dece tion and ersecutionKstru!!les 0hich re1uire fro2 Hi2 0ords of counsel and encoura!e2ent" and fre1uently rebuke ?cha s. % and *@. Iike0ise" in the second vision there is assurance that the forces released by the breakin! of the seals are 0ithin the rede2 tive fra2e0ork of the slain Ia2bGs 0ork in heaven that 0ill eventually result in o enin! the book of eternal destiny for the Ia2bGs faithful ones..+ 4he seals are successively o ened in cha ters 9 and ;=." intensifyin! at each ste the ro!ression" until a dra2atic silence occurs as the scroll itself is finally to be o ened. 4he PinterludeP in cha ter : is very visibly an a ro riate PS otli!ht on Iast EventsP for this articular se1uence. By its hi!hli!htin! of the sealing of GodGs servants" there is in this PInterludeP a sort of lay on the PsealP ter2inolo!y. But the 0hole conce t of o0nershi and reservation inherent in the sy2bolis2 of PsealP also very directly connects this scene in cha ter : 0ith the breakin! of the seals= .9 GodGs .(("&&& sealed ones are rotected fro2 the rava!es of the horse2en of the first four seals".: and even in the sort of 2artyrdo2 ortrayed in the fifth seal
.+ Cf. n. ;" above. .9 4he Ic7ica and theolo!ical dictionaries ?such as T&NT5 and similar reference 0orks ?s.v. gh[ijRk orsphragis5 have amply elucidated the si!nificance of the PsealP and of t$e Psealin!P process or ractice in the ancient 0orld. For a succinct reference to si7 possi%le si!nifications" sec B* #assyn!berde Ford" Revelation, A"' *; ?Garden City' 5M" .':+@A 666*6<* Cf. also the so2e0hat detailed treat2ent of PSeals and ScarabsP in I&B (=%+(-+'. .: Commentators !enerally 2iss this link because of a failure to take care,ul enou!h note of the 64 back!round in aec$ 6' 0here horses of various colors !o out to P atrol t$e earthP ?vs. :@ and 0here" in res onse to t$e ro hetic in1uiry as to the identity o, the four !roups of horses" an an!el defines the2 as t$e four ruh=tL ?0inds@ of heaven that !o out ,rom the resence of the Iord o, the 0hole earth Evss* (-+@. Co22entators 0ho $ave 2ade t$e connection include 0* R* "easley-Murray' The ook o" Revelation, Ne( Century Bible ?Iondon" .':(@" .(%A and Ieon #orris" The Revelation o" St. #ohn, Tyndalc NT Commentaries ?Grand Rapids' MI' .'9'@" ..*. /nfortunately" t$e RS3 in this instance co2 letely distorts the 2eanin! of the +e%re( %y its

63

P,ctorious-IntroductionP Scenes

they can rest in full assurance of GodGs care. .; 4his e2 hasis on GodGs care is hi!hli!hted further in the de iction in sections b and ! of cha ter : ?vss. '-.:@ of the !reat 2ultitude co2in! out of !reat tribulation ?these" like the 2artyrs in the fifth seal" have 0hite robesV@. 4he fore!oin! illustrates the 2anner in 0hich there is close correlation bet0een the victorious-introduction scenes and the re2ainder of the res ective visions 0hich these scenes introduce" and it 0ill not be necessary to elaborate here beyond these t0o sa2 les. In fact" a 1uick revie0 of the 2ain content of each vision 2ay be obtained by consultin! section % of cha ter % in this volu2e. 4he one additional observation that should be 2ade here is that althou!h all the victorious-introduction scenes have a ositive note of assurance for ChristGs loyal ones" so2eKes ecially those for visions III-3I ?the t0ofold series 0ith the PE7odus-fro2-E!y r>G4aII-of-BabylonP 2otifK also ortray ne!ative as ects. 4his 2atter 0ill receive further attention belo0.

T$e Temple Ima!ery and Its Si!ni,icance


As 0e have observed" te2 le i2a!ery is ervasive in the introductory scenes to the ei!ht 2ain ro hetic se1uences in Revelation. For visions II3II" the settin!s are in Pthe te2 le in heaven"P and PfurnitureP in that te2 le co2es to vie0. In vision I' ho0ever" the te2 le i2a!ery is that of la2 stands that re resent Pthe seven churchesP on earth. And in vision 3III" there is a!ain an earthly venueKbut this ti2e in the conte7t of the holy city 5e0 Herusale2 and the Pne0 earth"P 0ith God Hi2self Ptaber-naclin!P directly 0ith His eo le ?%.=*-(@ and 0ith PGod and the Ia2bP= described as the Pte2 leP of the 5e0 Herusale2 ?%.=%%@. It is i22ediately a arent that all three of the 2ain 54 a lications of te2 le i2a!ery co2e into lay in these introductory scenes. In the first vision" 0e have the 54 conce t of the Christian church as the Pne0 te2 le.P 4he classical lo!i for this conce t are undoubtedly . Corinthians *=.9-.: and % Corinthians 9=.9-.:" but certainly there is reflection of it in . 8eter %=+" as 0ell" and also in the rocla2ation of Ha2es to the Herusale2 council referred to in Acts .+=.*-.;. In the last-2entioned reference" Ha2es 2akes a lication of the ro hecy of A2os '=..-.% referrin! to GodGs returnin!
0ordin!" 5T$ese Tthe !rou s of horsesU are !oin! forth to the four 0inds of heaven"P 0hen it is in reality the 0inds ? a horses@ that do the !oin! forth. .; For a co2 rehensive study of the Fifth seal" see no0 Hoel 5obel #usvosvi" P4he Conce t of 3en !eance in the Book of Revelation in the 6ld 4esta2ent and 5ear Eastern Conte7tP ?8h.$. dissertation" Andre0s /niversity" .';9@.

64

P3ictonous-#troauCtionP scenes
to build a!ain the Ptabernacle of $avid"P 0hich had fallen do0n" as bein! directly a licable to the influ7 of Gentiles into the a ostolic church. 4he 54 arallel closest to the usa!e reflected in the introductory scenes for visions II-3II in the book of Revelation is that 0hich is found in the book of Hebre0s. 4here Christ is s oken of as Pa hi!h riest" one 0ho is seated at the ri!ht hand of the throne of the #aLesty in heaven" a 2inister in the sanctuary and the true tent 0hich is set u not by 2an but by the IordP ?Heb ;=.-%A see also vs. +@..' Finally" 0hat is undoubtedly the 2ost basic and central a lication of 54 te2 le i2a!ery is that 0hich is illustrated in the introductory scene and in the ro hetic descri tion in vision 3III of the A ocaly se= na2ely" a reference to the direct divine resence. In the rolo!ue to the Gos el of Hohn" it is stated that Christ Ptabernacled a2on! usGB ?Hohn .=.(A co2 are the situation in the Pne0 earthP after the descent of the heavenly Herusale2" in 0hich it is stated that God no0 tabernacles 0ith hu2anity T%.=*U@. 8erha s an even 2ore forceful reference is that in 0hich Hesus declared" P$estroy this te2 le" and in three days I 0ill raise it u .P 4he He0s understood this as referrin! to HerodGs te2 le" but the Evan!elist 2ade the e7 lanation that Phe TChristU s oke of the te2 le of his bodyGB and that 0hen therefore Hesus had risen fro2 the dead" His disci les Pre2e2bered that he had said thisP ?Hohn %=.'-%%@. 4he divine resence 0as the central focus of the ancient tabernacle>
:i>

te2 le econo2y in Israel.-P #oses 0as !iven instruction to build Pa sanctuary" that I TGodU 2ay d0ell in their TIsraelGsU 2idstP ?E7od %+=;@. And 0hen the construction of the tabernacle 0as co2 lete" Pthe cloud covered the tent of 2eetin!" and the !lory of the Iord filled the tabernacleP ?E7od (&=*(@. It is this funda2ental thou!htKthat of the divine resenceKthat like0ise ervades the introductory scenes to all ei!ht visions of the A ocaly se. 4he divine" ever-livin! Christ is" in the first instance" de icted as resent 0ith His eo le on earth" sustainin! the2 and rovidin! 2essa!es to the2 throu!h His Holy S irit ?vision I@A %. then the scene chan!es to the heavenly sanctuary" 0here Christ is actively 2inisterin! in behalf of His
.' See a!ain the e7cellent discussion in $avidson" **9-9:A also $avidsonGs PE7cursusP on tupos structures in E7od %+=(&" on . *9:-;;. %& For a !ood overvie0 of this funda2ental the2e" see An!el #anuel Rodri!ueN" PSanctuary 4heolo!y in the Book of E7odus"P ;SS %( ?.';9@= .%:-(+. %. It is interestin! to observe that each of t$e seven 2essa!es is introduced by C$rist and then is su22ed u in each instance as 5($at the S irit says to the ChurchesPK arallelin! t$e state2ents in the Fourth Gos el lo the effect that the 8araclete 0ill set forth ChristGs 0ords ?see" e.!." Hohn .(=%+-%9A .+=%9A .9=.%-.+@.

65

eo le ?visions II-3II@A and finally" 0hen God and the Ia2b d0ell 0ith redee2ed hu2an bein!s in the Pne0 earthP and P5e0 Herusale2"P there is brou!ht to earth the very ulti2ate in closeness and tan!ibility of the divine resence ?vision 3III@. &ositive and Ne!ative Elements in t$e Introductory Scenes As noticed earlier" the victorious-introduction scenes for visions I and II contain only a ositive thrust" but the third introductory scene adds also a ne!ative ele2ent. In this third scene" the ositive e2 hasis is found in the 2in!led incense-s2oke and rayers of the saints ascendin! to God" and the ne!ative as ect is described in ter2s of the an!elGs thro0in! a censer of live coals to earth" 0ith the resultin! Lud!2ent si!ns of voices" thunder" li!htnin!" and an earth1uake. In the revious article in this series I ointed out that the visions fro2 III throu!h 3I consist of a t0ice-re eated 2otif that 2ay a tly be desi!nated as the PE7odus-fro2-E!y f4Fall-of-BabylonP 2otif. ?See dia!ra2 % on the ne7t a!e for illustration of the 2otif.@ It is interestin! that it is recisely in conLunction 0ith these four visions that the stron!est references to ne!ative Lud!2ent occur. 4here is also a ro!ression of intensity in the Lud!2ent sy2bolis2" as 0e 0ill observe shortly. 4he introductory scenes for visions 3II and 3III revert artly to the ositive thrust of the co2 arable sections of visions I and II. Ho0ever" there is at least an obli1ue ?but nonetheless forceful@ reference to ne!ative Lud!2ent in each of these final t0o visions" even thou!h their ri2ary thrust is ositive. Wbc vision 3II" there is accla2ation to God for havin! Lud!ed the harlot and havin! vindicated the saints. Even so" the blessedness of salvation is the keynote of the anthe2s of raiseA and es ecially in the references to the Ia2bGs bride and to the 0eddin! su er of the Ia2b is there Loy at its hi!hestV For vision 3III" there is inserted 0ithin a !enerally felicitous icture ?%.=+-lla@" one verse that describes those 0ho 0ill 2eet doo2 in the Plake of fireP ?vs. ;@Ka state2ent obviously resented so as to contrast 0ith the re0ard of the con1uerors or overco2ers 2entioned Lust reviously ?vs. :@.%%
%% It s$ould not %e overloo#ed that Lust as %.=: states broadly the ulti2ate re0ard "os the overco2ers in t$e seven churches of cha s. % and *" %.=; reflects co2 rehensively the doo2 of the Pnonovcrco2crsP in t$ose seven churches. 4he ter2s Pco0ardly"P Pfaithless"P P olluted"P Psorcerers"P Pliars"P etc*' in %.=; are re2iniscent of t$e descri tions and counsels in t$e seven 2essa!es re!ardin! faithfulness unto deat$ ?S2yrna@" the dan!er of the (iles of "alaam and BeFe%el E&er!amum and4hyatira@" and t$e erLury a!ainst ChristGs faithful disci les ?8hiladel hia@" etc.

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A!!ression by the Evil Forces

: Bo0l 8la!ues

Hud!2ent on the Evil Forces

6-3

6'< .-+ 9": E7odus-fro2-E!y t #otif Fall-of-Babylon #otif E7odus-fro2-E!y t #otif . Revelation ;=%-.(=%& Fall-of-Babylon #otif % Revelation .+=.-.;=%(

Dia!ram A* T$e 5E odus-1rom-E!ypt5X51all-o,-"a%ylon5 Moti, in Revelation


?4his dia!ra2 is an enlar!e2ent of the one in Fenneth A. Strand" P4he 40o Jitnesses of Revelation ..=*-.%"P ;SS .' T.';.U= .%'. 4he discussion of this 2otif on . .%; of that article should also be noted.@

Concernin! this ositive and ne!ative thrust of the o enin! and closin! victorious-introduction scenes" it a ears that the totally ositive thrusts of the scenes in visions I and II are not ke t fully arallel or balanced in their chiastic counter arts in visions 3II and 3III" and this is for !ood reason= 4he for2er refer s ecifically to on!oin! salvific rocesses" a 2aLor theolo!ical concern durin! the historical eraA but the latter" by 0ay of contrast" ertain to a ti2e in the eschatolo!ical-Lud!2ent era 0hen ulti2ate salvation and !lorification a0ait ChristGs saints" but 0here also there are PunsavedP 0hose doo2 has no0 been fully sealed. 4hese PunsavedP cannot be i!nored in resentin! a co2 lete icture" for as G. E. #endenhall has ointed out in a different conte7t" the vindication of GodGs saints has t0o sides Pto the coinP= 4he obverse that re resents salvation for the saints has a reverse side that s ells doo2 for those 0ho have been the saintsG o ressors.%* 5Movement5 in &ortrayal o, t$e Ima!ery In addition to a strikin! vertical di2ension 2anifest in the visions of the A ocaly se" there is a certain ty e of horiNontal 2ove2ent evident in the sy2bolic usa!e 0ithin the se1uence of the ei!ht Pvictorious-introductionP scenes. Je have already observed" fro2 another ers ective" the 2ove2ent in te2 le settin! fro2 an earthly venue to a heavenly venue and back a!ain to a ne0 earthly ?i.e." Pne0 earthP@ venue. But the heavenly te2 le scenes the2selves ?in visions II-3II@ sho0 an interestin! ro!ression in the sy2bolis2 0hich occurs. 4his 0e shall briefly look at" follo0ed by succinct notice also of a ro!ression that occurs in the ne!ative-Lud!2ent i2a!ery utiliNed in visions III-3I Temple-in-$eaven i2a!ery. In vision II" the seven la2 s or torches of fire su!!est a first a art2ent or holy lace settin!. 5e7t" vision III takes us to the !olden altar of incense before the throne" and then vision I3 o ens to vie0 the ark of GodGs covenant in the inner shrine or #ost Holy 8lace. %( 4his a ears to correlate 0ith an increasin! e2 hasis on the end-ti2e in the res ective PBasic 8ro hetic $escri tionsP and PInterludes"P even thou!h all of these se1uences s an the era fro2 the ro hetGs ti2e on0ard to the end. ?4his heno2enon has been treated sufficiently in the revious article" and therefore need not be elaborated further here.@
%* Geor!e E. #endenhall" The Tenth 'eneration, The Drigins o" the Bibli!al Ti-a$ttion ?Balti2ore" .':*@" ;*. 4his is in the conte7t of an e7cellent study of NM) ?the Pven!eanceP>PvindicationP 2otif@ in biblical and other ancient 5ear Eastern literature. %( C,* a!ain n. .." above"

6"

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes After the chiastic dividin! line" the te2 le i2a!ery no lon!er e2braces te2 le furniture" for the functions re resented by such furnitureKor the salvific activities indicated therebyKno lon!er e7ist. Rather" s2oke fills the te2 le so that no 2inistry of 2ercy continues ?.+=;@A rocla2ations and>or Lud!2ental si!ns occur" 0ith only !eneral reference to their source in the te2 le" fro2 the throne" and>or in heaven ?cf. .9=.:ff.A .'=.-+A %.=+@. Ne!ative-Gud!ment i2a!ery. 4he central four visions of the A ocaly seKna2ely" III throu!h 3IKhave introductions that set forth stron! ne!ative-Lud!2ent sy2bolis2. An interestin! feature is the intensification of the ne!ative thrust. 4he si!ns in vision III are thunder" voices" li!htnin!" and an earth1uake ?;=+@A to these" vision I3 adds Pheavy hailP ?..=.'@A and finally" vision 3I sets forth these sa2e Lud!2ent harbin!ers but intensifies considerably both the earth1uake ?Psuch as had never been since 2en 0ere on the earth"P .9=.;@ and the hail ?each hailstone Pheavy as a hundred0ei!ht"P .9=%.@. 3ision 3 o2its this articular series of Lud!2ent sy2bols" ossibly because in inau!uratin! its de iction of the eschatolo!ical Lud!2ent" its chief e2 hases already carry a heavy burden of doo2= the fullness of GodGs 0rath bein! carried forth fro2 the te2 le in the seven bo0ls and the te2 le itself as s2oke-filled and unoccu ied ?.+=+;@. In any event" t$e ,irst dou%let o, visions (it$ the PE7odus-fro2-E!ypt5X51allo,-"a%ylon5 moti, Evisions III and I3@ be!ins 0ith introductory scenes that already s$o( a ro!ression of intensity of Lud!2ent. T$is intensity is t$en ,urt$er en$anced by the sy2bolic ortrayals in the second dou%let Evisions V and VIH* T$e theolo!ical si!nificance here a ears to %e t$e concept t$at increasin! (oe is commensurate (it$ a attern of continuin! and 2ore ,la!rant reLection of ChristGs offer o, salvation* As such" it (ould %e a sort of e tended commentary on t$e principle that Besus enunciated in declarin! t$at the Bud!mental doom upon Bethsaida" Cho-raFin' Ca ernau2" and other reLecters o, +is 2ercy 0ould e ceed that of Sodom and 0omorra$ ?cf." e*!*' Matt .&=.(-.+ and ..=%&-%(@. Relations$ip o, t$e Introductions ,or Visions I and VIII 8e have already analyNed the theolo!ical si!nificance of the te2 le i2a!ery in the ei!ht introductory scenes in Revelation. It re2ains here to call 2ore s ecific attention to one articular featureKna2ely" the envelo e structure in 0hich the introduction to vision I and that to vision 3III enclose" as it 0ere" the si7 intervenin! introductions. 4he ri2ary feature of the enclosure sche2a is that of venueKearthly for visions I and 3III" and heavenly for visions II-3II. 4hus" the e2 hasis at both the be!innin! 6.

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes and the end of the book is on an immanen!e of the divine resence. Is there here a su!!estion" erha s" of the t0o advents of Christ and of their ulti2ate resultsS In the first introductory scene" Hohn sees the Christ 0ho had co2e as God incarnate in His first adventK0ho 0as killed and then resurrected" and 0ho ascended to heaven after (& days. 5o0 this sa2e $ivine 8erson a ears to Hohn as the one 0ho 0as dead but lives forever ?Rev .=.:-.;@ and is present, 0alkin! a2on! His churchesAa2 -stands. 4his first victorious-introduction scene thus evidences the continuin! and close resence of this very Hesus 0ith His church on earth. His o0n victory durin! His incarnation has assured the e7istence of this covenant co22unity itself" and His o0n divine resence re2ains verily 0ith His eo le throu!hout the historical era ?by 2eans of His Holy S irit@. %+ In the fourth Gos el" the rolo!ue refers to ChristGs Ptabernaclin! a2on! usP ?Hohn .=.(@" but the $iscourse on the 8araclete indicates that even after HesusB de arture into heaven" both He and the Father 0ould co2e to 2ake their Pho2eP 0ith HesusB faithful disci les ?see Hohn .(=.+-%."%*@. 4he counter art to this divine resence in the Phere-and-no0P is the fullness of e7 erience of the divine resence contin!ent u on HesusG second advent to brin! re0ards to all ersons accordin! to their deeds ?Rev %%=.%@. In the final sta!es of those re0ards Kthat is" in the Pne0 heavenP> Pne0 earths>5e0 Herusale2 e7 erienceKGod and the Ia2b a!ain PtabernacleP 0ith their eo le" but no0 this tabernaclin! is in an i22ediate and direct resence ?see %.=*" %%A and %%=.-(@. 4hus" in the be!innin! and closin! victorious-introduction scenes 0e find" in a sense" an elaboration of the A ocaly seGs t0ofold the2e ?called to attention in 2y earlier article@= ChristGs resence 0ith His eo le in this resent a!e as the PAl ha and 62e!a"P and His return at the end of the historical era to usher in those events that 0ill cul2inate in His resence 0ith His eo le throu!hout eternity ?cf. Rev .=:-; and %%=.%.*@. But 0hat function" then" do the introductory scenes for the intervenin! visions serveS Jhereas immanen!e is the e2 hasis of visions I and 3III" includin! their victorious-introduction scenes" trans!en$en!e is the e2 hasis of the other visions. 4hese si7 visions hi!hli!ht activity in heaven" 0hile GodGs eo le are on earth. But this transcendence is not by any 2eans aloofness" nor is it any lack of concern and contact bet0een heaven and earth. Rather" all of these visions ?throu!h their victoriousintroduction scenes" and also their subse1uent descri tive se1uences@ reveal a very
%+ C,* a!ain n. %." above.

7$

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes decided verti!al !ontinuity. Jhat is done in the te2 le in heaven is done for the benefit of GodGs eo le on earth" and therefore the heavenly activity ortrayed in the victoriousintroduction scenes finds an i22ediate counter art in forces released on earth in order to acco2 lish GodGs ur ose for His eo le.

"road 5Envelope Structures5


Brief 2ention should be 2ade of the fact that in the fore!oin! analysis and discussion 0e have co2e u on t0o broad Penvelo e structures.P %9 One of these 0e have already discussed in dealin! 0ith the venue of the te2 le i2a!ery= for visions I and 3III" an earthly venue ? resent-historical and ne0-earthly" res ectively@A and for visions dd-e^" a settin! in the Pte2 le in heaven.P 4he other envelo e structure relates to the P5e!ative-Hud!2ent I2a!eryP and encloses the harsh ne!ative-Lud!2ent thrusts of the introductory scenes for visions d^ throu!h 3I 0ithin the solely ositive thrust of the arallelin! scenes for visions I and ^" on the one hand" and the redo2inantly ositive thrust of the scenes for visions 3II and V,,l' on the other hand. %: ?4hese t0o broad envelo e structures are set forth in sketch for2 in dia!ra2 *.@ 4he t0o e7a2 les of inclusio are of interest fro2 the stand oint of literary artistry" of course. But 0e 2ust ever bear in 2ind that this artistry (as not utiliNed as an end in itselfA rather" it 0as incor orated because of" and in relationshi to" its functionality for conveyin! forcefully the theolo!ical ers ective and 2otifs that are foundational in the A ocaly se and that constitute the bookGs ri2ary concern.

2* Summary and Conclusion


4he revious article and the resent one have outlined certain literary structures in the A ocaly se and !iven attention in articular to the victoriousintroduction scenes for the ei!ht 2ain visions in the book of Revelation. It is obvious" in the first lace" that Revelation is a very neatly or!aniNed literary iece. Ho0ever" the literary atterns re resent 2ore
%9 PEnvelo e structuresP or PinclusionsP are co22on in the literaly atterns of the A ocaly se. See" e.!." Jillia2 H. Shea" P4he 8arallel Iiteraly Structure of Revelation .% and <C,6 ;SS %* ?.';+@= *:-+( ?es . (((+@" for t0o strikin! illustrations of this heno2enon. %: 8it$ res ect to t$e 2atter of ositive and ne!ative as ects" our reference is' of course" to only the victorious-introduction scenesKthe blocs desi!nated PAP in dia!ra2 .. In other blocs of 2aterial in visions I' II' and VII' t$ere are indeed 2any ne!ative ele2ents" but this fact does not affect t$e distinctive attern 0e have noticed in the introductory scenes.

:.

P3ictorious-IntroductionP Scenes than si2 ly aesthetic taste and 2ne2onic concernA they hi!hli!ht in a very real 0ay certain 2aLor theolo!ical the2es and 2otifs. 4hese are the2es and 2otifs that arallel and elaborate as ects of !eneral 54 theolo!y" and that are es ecially valuable in s eakin! ho e and assurance to ChristGs loyal follo0ers in their stru!!le a!ainst forces of dece tion and ersecution.

Dia!ram 2* T(o 5Envelope Structures5 in t$e Introductory Scenes o, t$e "oo# o, Revelation

6* Eart$ly and +eavenly 3enues 4horou!hly 8ositive 4hrust Both 8ositive and5e!atLye E2 hasis FGHIXI3 f 3X3I lL
IXII

8redo2inantly 8ositive 4hrust

3II X 3III %. 8ositive and 5e!ative Hud!2ent E2 hases

72

C$apter IV

Interpretin! Revelation4 Sym%olism


Hon 8aulien
Editorial Synopsis* Althou!h the a ostle Hohn never 1uotes the 64 directly in his 0ritin! of the ro hecy" it is evident that he dra0s heavily on its i2a!ery. 4hese allusions" for2in! as they do a veritable 2osaic of 64 hraseolo!y" 2ay be classified under t0o headin!s= ?.@ echoes" and ?%@ direct allusions. 4hrou!h the centuries 2any 64 conce ts beca2e detached fro2 their scri tural roots to for2 a ool of sy2bolic ideas co22only used and understood by everyone. HohnGs use of these co22on sy2bols 2ay be ter2ed PechoesP ?of the 64@A they carry their o0n si!nificance" a art fro2 their ori!inal 64 2atri7. 6n the other hand Hohn so2eti2es 2odels a !iven ortion of his ro hecy on a selection fro2 the 64 that he intends his readers to note. $esi!nated as Pdirect allusions"P these 64 assa!es 2ay shed li!ht on the 2eanin! of that ortion of Revelation in 0hich Hohn uses the borro0ed i2a!ery. In this cha ter the resent author classifies Pdirect allusionsP accordin! to their hel fulness in inter retin! Revelation and su!!ests the criteria by 0hich they 2ay be identified as Pdirect allusions.P Let none think" because they cannot e7 lain the 2eanin! of every sy2bol in the Revelation" that it is useless ,or the2 to search this book in an effort to kno0 the 2eanin! of the truth it contains. T$e One 0ho revealed these 2ysteries to Bo$n 0ill !ive to the dili!ent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly thin!s. 4hose ($ose hearts are o en to t$e rece tion of truth 0ill be enabled to understand its teac$in!s' and 0ill %e !ranted t$e blessin! ro2ised to those 0ho Phear the 0ords of this ro hecy" and kee those thin!s 0hich are 0ritten therein.P ?Ellen G. Jhite" The !ts o" the postles T#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'..U" +;(-;+.@ Jhile 0e 2ust not for!et the above counsel" the study !uides su!!ested in this cha ter 0ill enable the serious Bible student to 2ine 2ore accurately the veins of s iritual truth beneath the surface of this cro0nin! ro hecy of Scri ture.

73

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

C$apter Outline
I* T$e "oo# o, Revelation; Its Nature II* Interpretin! Revelation III* Conclusion

T$e "oo# o, Revelation; Its Nature


God has seen fit at every sta!e in the roduction of the Scri tures to offer His revelation in lan!ua!e a ro riate to the ti2e" lace" and circu2stances of the ori!inal 0riter. God does not by ass the culture" back!round" literary style" or 0ays of thinkin! of the individuals to 0ho2 He reveals Hi2self. Instead He seeks earnestly to 2eet the2 0here they are so that they can understand" as far as ossible" His revelations to the2 and throu!h the2 ?cf. . Cor '=.'-%*@. For e7a2 le" God resented the sa2e basic 2essa!e to 5ebuchadneNNar in $aniel % as He did to the ro het in $aniel :. But to the a!an kin! the nations 0ere ortrayed in the for2 of an idol. 4his is natural since he understood the nations to be !lorious" shinin! re resentations of the !ods they served. 4o the Hebre0 ro het on the other hand the nations 0ere ortrayed as he sa0 the2= vicious" ravenous beasts 0ho 0ere enslavin! and destroyin! his eo le. God s oke to each 0ithin his lan!ua!e and cultural settin! in order to co22unicate a 2essa!e about His lans for the future. 4he 0ords that eo le use and the 2eanin!s that those 0ords carry are the roduct of a eo leGs ast e7 erience. Ian!ua!e is li2ited in e7 ression to that 0hich is fa2iliar to eo le in a !iven ti2e and lace. Even the future can only be described in the lan!ua!e of a eo leGs ast and resent e7 erience. Jhen the E7odus of Israel fro2 E!y t is described in the 64 for e7a2 le" the lan!ua!e used re2inds the reader of the hraseolo!y by 0hich GodGs 2i!hty activity in the Creation and the Flood are described in the book of Genesis. For e7a2 le" both 5oah and #oses 0ere delivered by an ParkP coated 0ith itch. . In the E7odus" as at Creation" the divine resence brou!ht li!ht into darkness and a dividin! of the 0aters.% Co2lE7od %=*A cf. Gen 9=.(. % E7od .*=%.A cf. Gen .=*-+A E od .(=%.A cf. Gen .=9-;. 74

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 mon to all three descri tions are the use of 5dry land52 and 5%e ,ruit,ul and 2ulti ly.P Bust as the ortrayal of t$e E7odus ma#es use o, t$e descriptions of 0od9s revious actions" so t$e e ile to and t$e restoration ,rom "a%ylon are descri%ed in t$e ro hets %y t$e lan!ua!e of Creation and t$e E odus* Creation' ,or e7a2 le" is the pattern ,or Isaia$ 63;6<-67* T$e E odus provides the pattern for a num%er of t$e prop$ets* In like 2anner the ro hecies concernin! the #essiah 0ere voiced in ter2s of a ro het like #oses" a son of $avid" and a riest after the order of#elchiNedek. God in each case used the lan!ua!e of the ast as a tool to co22unicate His resent 0ill and>or His lan for the future. It should co2e as no sur rise" therefore" to discover that the visions of Revelation are not filled 0ith helico ters" s aceshi s" co2 uters" and nuclear bo2bs. Instead" they are couched in the i2a!es of the 54 churchGs ast. 4hou!h ori!inatin! fro2 the throne of God" Revelation 0as co22unicated in lan!ua!e a ro riate to the ti2e" lace" and circu2stances of the hu2an author" Hohn. P4he Bible is not !iven to us in !rand su erhu2an lan!ua!e. Hesus" in order to reach 2an 0here he is" took hu2anity. 4he Bible 2ust be !iven in the lan!ua!e of 2en..G9 Althou!h a ro hecy of future events fro2 the authorGs ers ective" the lan!ua!e of the churchGs revious e7 erience rovided the lan!ua!e 0ith 0hich to describe that future. Jhile the Bible 2ay often describe our future" it is i2 ortant to kee in 2ind that the lan!ua!e throu!h 0hich such ro hecies 0ere co22unicated 0as the lan!ua!e of another ti2e and lace than our o0n. It is all too easy to i2 ose u on the te7t 2eanin!s 2ore a ro riate to our ti2e and lace than to the situation 0ithin 0hich God ori!inally s oke. $iscoverin! the ori!inal 2eanin! of the lan!ua!e of the te7t safe!uards us a!ainst our natural tendency to re2ake the biblical te7t into our o0n i2a!e.: Jhen 0e s eak of Pori!inal 2eanin!>6f course" 0e should not assu2e that the ori!inal author or the ori!inal audience fully understood the divine
* Hosh (=.;A E7od .(=%." %'A cf. Gen ;=..".*A .='-.&. ( E7od .=:A cf. Gen '=:A .=%;. 3 +os %=;-.+A Mic :=.+-%&A Isa (=%-9A ..=.+-.9A (*=.9-.'" etc. 9 Ellen G. Jhite" Sele!te$ )essages, "oo# . ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'+;@" %&. : Jhile a kno0led!e of 0ree# and Hebre0 is not necessary for an understandin! of the Bible ?see the conclusion of this cha ter@" readin! the te7t in the ori!inal lan!ua!e hel s one to break a0ay fro2 the fa2iliar associations that the En!lish 0ords $ave 0ith our 2odern settin!. In translation it is easier to i2 ort unkno0in!ly conte2 orary 2eanin!s into our readin! of the te7t.

75

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 ur ose in the revelation co22unicated to the2. Jhat 0e are sayin! is that the divine ur ose 0as fully and ade1uately re resented in the feeble and localiNed e7 ressions of a fallible hu2an 0riter. ; 4herefore" the ori!inal 2eanin! of the lan!ua!e of the te7t is critical to a correct understandin! of Scri ture. 4o a ly to the lan!ua!e of the te7t 2eanin!s 2ore a ro riate to our ti2e and lace is to launch ourselves into a Lourney to all 2anner of fantastic destinations 0hich" thou!h they 2ay a ear biblical" are in fact contrary to the divine intent for that assa!e. 6ur study of 2ethod" therefore" 0ill be!in 0ith a careful e7a2ination of the lan!ua!e of Revelation in order to deter2ine 0hat rocedures are 2ost a ro riate to the study of the book. 6nly as 0e are atient enou!h to study Revelation on its o0n ter2s 0ill 0e ri!htly understand the vision !ranted to its author.' A C$ristian "oo# It is evident fro2 the very first hrase ?Pthe revelation of Hesus ChristP@ that Revelation is a Christian book ?.=.@. Hesus Christ is resent every0here" both e7 licitly.& and in sy2bol... 4here are references to churches.% and to the cross..* 4he careful reader also beco2es a0are of scores" if not hundreds" of echoes recallin! 54 the2es" vocabulary" and theolo!y. .( Althou!h the book has a different style" vocabulary" and subLect 2atter" 0e should not e7 ect" therefore" its theolo!y to be radically different fro2 0hat 0e find else0here in the 54..+

; P4he "i%le is (ritten by ins ired men' but it is not 0od9s 2ode of thou!ht and e7 ression. It is that o, hu2anity. 0od' as a 0riter" is not re resented. #en 0ill often say such an e7 ression is not like 0od* "ut 0od has not ut +imsel, in 0ords" in lo!ic" in rhetoric" on trial in the Bible. T$e (riters o, T$e Bible 0ere 0od9s en2en" not His en. Loo# at t$e di,,erent 0riters. PIt is not the 0ords o, t$e "i%le that arc ins ired" but the 2en that 0ere ins ired. Ins iration acts not on the 2anGs 0ords or $is e7 ressions but on the 2an hi2self" 0ho" under the in,luence of the Holy 0$ost' is im%ued 0ith thou!hts. "ut the (ords receive the i2 ression o, t$e individual 2ind. T$e divine mind is diffused. T$e divine 2ind and 0ill is co2bined 0ith the hu2an mind and 0illA thus t$e utterances of the 2an are the 0ord o, 0od5 ?Jhite" Sele!te$ )essages, %.@. ' Elisabeth Schussler RorenFa' The po!alypse ?Chica!o" .':9@" .*. .& Rev 6;6*%"+"'A ..=.+A .%=.&".:A .(=.%A .:=9A .'=.&A %&=("9A AA;66' %&" %.. .. Rev .=.%-.9A +=+ff.A :=.:A .%=+"..A .(=lff." etc. .% Rev .-*A AA;66* .* Rev .=.;A +=9"7'.%A ..=;A .%=... .( For listin!s o, arallels to 54 lan!ua!e and the2es see Rudolf +alver' &er )ythos im Jet2ten uck $er Bibel, 4heolo!ische Forschun!" vol. *% ?Ha2bur!-Ber!stedt. .'9(@= +;-:&A Jillia2 #illi!an" Je!tures on the po!a"ypse ?Iondon" .;'%@" (%-:&A +enry m* S0ete" The po!alypse o" St. #ohn ?Iondon" .'&9@" cli-cliii. .+ Halver" +;.

76

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 A Divine Revelation Accordin! to the reface ?.=.-*@ the author understands his 0ork to be that of trans2ittin! to the church a visionary 2essa!e fro2 God. He re eatedly oints to a su ernatural ori!in for the scenes ortrayed in his book..9 He considers hi2self a ro het and his 0ork a ro hecy. His authority is e1ual to that of the a ostles and the 64 ro hets. 4he P0ords of the ro hecyP are to be obeyed ?.=*@. 4heir authority is so un1uestionable that not a 0ord is to be added or subtracted ?%%=.;.'@. 6n the other hand" there is considerable evidence ?outlined belo0@ that a 2ultitude of allusions to earlier literature 0ith 0hich Hohn the Revelator 0as fa2iliar are s rinkled throu!hout the visions. 4o 0hat de!ree is the book visionary and to 0hat de!ree is it researched" develo ed" and 0ritten by the hu2an authorS Fortunately 0e do not need to 2ake such a difficult distinction. Jhether the allusions co2e fro2 God or are the result of HohnGs 2editation u on the visions 2akes no difference to the result. If" as 0as ointed out above" God al0ays s eaks in the ti2e" lace" and circu2stances of the ori!inal 0riter" the end roduct ?the te7t@ s eaks ade1uately for bothV For the sake of convenience and ease of e7ression" ho0ever" in this cha ter 0e 0ill s eak !enerally in ter2s of Pthe authorGs intentP or PHohnGs intentP 0ithout thereby intendin! to i2 ly that the book is 2erely a hu2an roduct. For Seventh-day Adventists it 2ay be instructive to recall the e7 erience of Ellen G. Jhite" 0ho had visions of heavenly thin!s si2ilar to those of Hohn. Recent study has indicated" ho0ever" that she researched lon! and hard to find the best 0ay to e7 ress 0hat she had received in lan!ua!e that 0ould be a ro riate to the readers in her ti2e and lace. 3isions and research can 0ork to!ether 0ithin a sin!le hu2an bein! to roduce a book that i2 arts co22unications fro2 the 2ind of God. 4he resence of the divine ele2ent in Revelation indicates that the ulti2ate 2eanin! of the book 0ill often !o beyond 0hat the hu2an author 2i!ht have understood. 4his" ho0ever" does not license inter reters to indiscri2inately seek all kinds of e7tended 2eanin!s in the book. Hust as God limited Hi2self 0hen He took on hu2an nature in the incarnation" so He also li2ited Hi2self 0hen He chose to e7 ress Hi2self in Scri ture throu!h the lan!ua!e of hu2an authors.
.9 Rev .=.&-%&A %=:"66' etc.A (=.-%A .&=..A .:=.-*A .'='-.&A %%=9-.&. .: 5T$e Bible" 0ith its God-!iven truths e7 ressed in the lan!ua!e of 2en" resents a union of the divine and the hu2an. Such a union e7isted in t$e nature of Christ" 0ho 0as the Son of God and

77

Inter retin! Revelation, Sy2bolis2 8$ile 0od9s intent 2ay transcend t$e $uman aut$or9s understandin!" +is intent is e pressed by 2eans o, t$e lan!ua!e c$osen by the hu2an aut$or* T$us' ($atever divine intent is perceived in a passa!e' it should be a natural e tension of the authorGs o(n lan!ua!e and purpose*6= A &rop$etic "oo# Related to the 2atter of the divine intent is the bookGs clai2 to rovide !enuine infor2ation 0ith re!ard to the future. Revelation concerns thin!s that P2ust soon take laceG P ?.=.@A thin!s that 0ill Ptake lace hereafterP ?.=.'@. It s eaks of ChristGs return and of 6ne P0ho is to co2eP ?Rev .=:-;A (=;@. It ro2ises re0ards to the overco2er ?Rev %=:".." etc.@. Revelation points ,or(ard to a ,uture sealin! time ?:=.-*@A to a future 5$our o, trial5 ?*=.&A :=.(@A to a future redeemed multitude E<;7,,*J .'=lff.@A to a !reat final rocla2ation of the !os el ?.&=;-..A .(=9-.%@A to a final Hud!2ent ?..=.;A %&=..-.+@A and to a !reat" final battle ?.%-%&@ cli2a7in! in ChristGs co2in! ?.(=.(-%&A .'=llff.@" usherin! in GodGs final" universal rule ?..=.+-.:A %.-%%=+@. 4hus" Revelation is concerned lar!ely 0ith events that are future fro2 the authorGs ers ective. Settin! in Asia Minor 4he te7t of Revelation 2akes clear that the book 0as addressed to seven churches in the Ro2an rovince of Asia ?.=(A cf. %%=.9@. .' It should not sur rise us" then" if at ti2es the book uses sy2bols and conce ts that occur in nonbiblical literature and 2ytholo!y. 4he author didnGt necessarily PresearchP these sy2bolsA they ca2e to hi2 as livin! e7 ressions that 0ould be fa2iliar to anyone 0ho lived in Asia #inor at the ti2e.%& Jhile at first 0e 2ay be so2e0hat unco2fortable 0ith the idea that a biblical 0riter 2ay have e2 loyed so2e 2ytholo!ical fi!ures in his book
the Son of 2an. 4hus it is true of the Bible" as it 0as of Christ" that Gthe Jord 0as 2ade flesh" and d0elt a2on! us.G Hohn .=.(P ?Ellen G. Jhite" The Great (ontroversy ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'+&U"vi@" .; Ins ired (riters did not al0ays !ras the content o, 0od9s revelation ?see Daniel and . &et .=.&-.*@. "ut they retained control of t$e te t ?sec n. ;@. In t$e case o, Revelation' the te t 0as intended to 2ake sense to its ori!inal readers ERev .=*-("'-..A %%=.9@ as 0ell as later ones* Editorial note= 4he vie0 that Revelation P2ade senseP to the ori!inal readers does not mean t$at t$e latter sa0 or e7 ected immediate fulfill2ents o, t$e total ro hecy in their day ?a reterist vie0@. #any as ects of the vision lay in the distant future. T$e Messianic ro hecies P2ade senseP to the 64 ro hets too" but they kne0 their fulfill2ent 0ould be ,uture to t$eir ti2es ?. 8et .=.&.%@. .' As (it$ any ins ired a ostolic co22unication" t$e ro hecy 0ould have had si!ni,icance for other Christian con!re!ations as 0ell ?cf. Col (=.9@. -Ed* %& 8eter #orant" &DS Nommen $es Horn ?<urich" .'9'@" .'. 7"

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 ?for e7a2 le" seven-headed beasts@" 0e 2ust re2e2ber the ro hetic nature of Revelation. 8ro hets used the co22on lan!ua!e of the ti2e to co22unicate effectively. 4hus" scholars 0ho have found ancient arallels to various arts of the A ocaly se can hel us to understand better the intent of the bookGs i2a!ery.%.

Apocalyptic Lan!ua!e
It is i22ediately evident that the book of Revelation is not 0ritten in ordinary rose. Ri!ht at the be!innin! the book is declared to be Psi!nifiedP ?.=." FH3@. An ea!le s eaks" locusts i!nore ve!etation" a !reat red dra!on chases a 0o2an throu!h the sky" a lion is transfor2ed into a la2b 0hich con1uers everythin!. 4his is not ty ical 54 lan!ua!e.%% Revelation is so sy2bolic that the reader needs to !uard a!ainst bein! overly literal in inter retation.%* 5evertheless" such cos2ic sy2bolis2 0as a rather co22on for2 of literary rocedure in those days. Books like Ethio ic Enoch" ( ENra" and % Baruch e7 ress feelin!s and theolo!y in 0hat has been ter2ed Pa ocaly tic lan!ua!e.P%( 4hus" 0hile the lan!ua!e of Revelation is often stran!e and sy2bolic" its 2essa!e is !rounded fir2ly in reality. Cuite likely the first-century Christian reader had relatively little difficulty understandin! the 2ain sy2bols of the book. 4he 2odern-day inter reter of Revelation" then" 0ill need to take into account the a ocaly tic literature of the ti2es" 0hich 0ill hel hi2 to understand ho0 a ocaly tic lan!ua!e 0as erceived in the first century A.$.

A6 See' e.!." +ans Dieter "etF' 5On the 8roble2 of the Rcli!io-Historical /nderstandin! of A ocaly ticis2"P #T( = ?.'9'@= .++A Jillia2 Fi2bro Hedrik" P4he Sources and /se of the I2a!eiy in A ocaly se .%P ?4h.$. dissertation" Graduate 4heolo!ical /nion" .':.@ '(-'+A B*&*M* S0eet" Revelation, Jest2inster 8elican Co22entaries ?8hiladel hia" .':'@" (.. 6f articular hel 2ay %e t$e forthco2in! co22entaiy on Revelation by $avid Aunc in the Jord Biblical Co22entary series. Aune is a dual e7 ert in Revelation and in the ancient Ro2an 0orld. %% +alver' .+9. %* &$ilip #auro" The 4atmos Visions ?Boston" .'%+@" %*. 4here is no 1uestion that 2any thin!s in Revelation are intended to be taken literally ?the seven churches" Christ" Hohn" 0ar" and death" e.!.@" but t$e clear state2ent at the be!innin! ?.=.@ co2bined 0ith the heno2ena of the book indicates that sy2bolis2 is the ri2ary lan!ua!e tool used in the book. %( See Ha2es H. Charles0orth" ed." The Dl$ Testament 4seu$epiyapha, vol. . ?Garden City" 5M" .';*.';(@. %+ David I. Barr" P4he A ocaly se as a Sy2bolic 4ransfor2ation of the Jorld= A Iiterary Analysis"P InlBO ?.';(@= (&-(.. 4he 0ree# construction in Rev .=* >a.ouowith accusative@ i2 lies that the readers and hearers 0ere to have sufficient understandin! of the book to obey it.

7.

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 Importance o, t$e Old Testament Jhile so2e allusions to nonbiblical sources 2ay a ear" it is certain that Revelation cannot be understood 0ithout continual reference to the 64 It is Pa erfect 2osaic of assa!es fro2 the 64 4he all- ervasiveness of the 64 in Revelation indicates that it is the 2aLor key to unlock the 2eanin! of the bookGs sy2bols. 4he ears of HohnGs audience 0ere far better attuned to ick u 64 allusions than is the case 0ith 2ost Christian con!re!ations today. %; 4he 64 rovided a 2eans of Pdecodin!P the 2essa!e of Revelation that 0as not available to the outsider.%' 6ur study of Revelation 2ust" therefore" include a thorou!h understandin! of 64 history" oetry" lan!ua!e" and the2es. Jithout such an understandin!" the 2eanin! of the book re2ains hidden to a lar!e e7tent. &ro%lem o, Allusions 4o assert that Revelation is saturated 0ith 64 conce ts does not by itself address the issue of ho0 they are used in the book. A reader thorou!hly ac1uainted 0ith the 64 1uickly notices that Revelation never 1uotes the 64 *& Rather" it alludes to it 0ith a 0ord here" a conce t there" a hrase in another lace. *. Jhile it is clear that the 64 is basic to any understandin! of Revelation" it is not al0ays clear 0hat art of the 64 is bein! alluded to in a !iven verse.*% An e7e!etical 2ethod that 0ill unlock the sy2bols of Revelation 2ust
%9 g. J. Bullin!er" The po!alypse ?Iondon" .'*+@" +A Austin Fairer" Rebirth o" Images ?Gloucester" #A" .':&@" .:A A. Feuillet" PIe #essie et sa #ere dGa res te cha itre DII de .GA oca-ly se"P RB 99 ?.'+'@= ++A Jillia2 G. Scro!!ie" The 'reat ;nveiling ?Grand Ra ids" .':'@" %%. %: #illi!an" Je!tures on the po!alypse, P<. %; Ba2abas Iindars" P4he 8lace of the Old 4esta2ent in the For2ation of 5e0 4esta2ent 4heolo!y"P ,:W %* ?.':9@= 9+. %' Edyth Ar2stron! Hoyt" Stu$ies in the po!alypse o" #ohn o"4atmos ?Ann Arbor" MI' .'+*@" :. Jhile the author doubtless had visionary e7 eriences" what he 0rote do0n is clearly also the roduct of theolo!ical inter retation and reflection. *& 6f the scores of scholars 0ho 2ake this assertion" a fe0 leadin! Fi!ures 0ill suffice= Furt Aland" The 'ree. New Testament, *rd ed. ?5e0 Kor#' .':+@" '&*A Adela Kar%ro Collins" Crisis an$ (atharsis, The 4ower o" the po!alypse ?8hiladel hia" .';(@" (%A EliFa%et$ Sc$iissler FiorenNa" PA okaly sis and 8ro heteia= 4he "oo# of Revelation in the Conte7t of Early Christian 8ro hecy"P in I+ po!alypse Aohanni*ue et I+ po!alypti*ue $ans leNouveau Testa#ent, .&;A Halver" ..-.%A 8ierre 8ri!ent" J+ po!aIypse $e Saint #ean, Conunentaire du Nouveau Testament' vol. .( ?Iausanne" .';.@= *9;A Q. Barclay S0ete" n Intro$u!tion to the )%d Testament ?Ca2brid!e" .'&%@" *'%. *. Gerhard F. Hasel" 5La 8ro hetic et son acco2 lisse2ent"P in 4ropheti! et Es!halolog"e, trans. fro2 En!lish of un ublished syllabus" ed. Richard Iesher ?Jashin!ton" DC' "i%lical Research Institute" .';%@" .=.&+A S0eet. *'. *% Iouis Arthur 3os" The Synopti! Tra$itions in the po!alypse ?Fa2 en" .'9+@" 6=*

"$

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 include !uidelines for deter2inin! 0hen and in 0hat 2anner the author is alludin! to the 64.

Repetitive Structure
As the reader !ains !reater fa2iliarity 0ith Revelation" it beco2es clear that the bookGs structure is closely related to its 2eanin!. 4here are seven churches" seven seals" seven tru2 ets" and seven bo0ls. #any the2es and sy2bols rea ear at re!ular intervals.** Al2ost every assa!e has arallels else0here in the book. Revelation contains such a co2 le7ity of interlockin! arallels that a !iven assa!e 2ay be 2ore closely related to 2aterial at the other end of the book than to nei!hborin! assa!es.*( 4hus" the inter reter needs to have a !ood kno0led!e of the structure and content of the entire book and to be a0are of the i2 act of the 0hole on
R:c

the assa!e under study. A 8ors$ip Settin! 6ne of the 2ost strikin! features of Revelation is its re eated ortrayal of 0orshi scenes in heaven" usually in the conte7t of i2a!ery related to the 64 sanctuary.*9 5ot only are there a !reat nu2ber of hy2ns in the book" *: but the very blessin!s and curses on those 0ho read and hear Revelation i2 ly a ublic readin! of the book in a 0orshi settin! ?.=*A %%=.;-.'@. 4hese facts su!!est that attention needs to be !iven to the Christian 0orshi ractices of the first century" 64 sanctuary i2a!ery" the He0ish syna!o!ue service" and the Ara2aic tar!u2s that develo ed in the He0ish syna!o!ues. Conclusion 4he characteristics of the book of Revelation Hust e7a2ined call for attention to 2ethod. 4he ro er 2ethod for studyin! Revelation 0ill
** Bair" (*. 2: Leonard 4ho2 son" 5T$e Myt$ic )nity o, t$e Apocalypse'5 in So!iety o" Bibli!al Jiterature FQGI Seminar 4apers, ed* Dent +arold Ric$ards ?Atlanta" .';+@" .9-.:. 23 Some o, the %etter structures o, Revelation include the follo0in!= Bo$n 8ic# "o(man' P4he Revelation to Bo$n; Its Dramatic Structure and Messa!e'5 +ns 7 ?.'++@= ((?#*A Elisabeth Sc$ussler FiorenNa" 5Composition and Structure o, the "oo# o, Revelation'5 C 1 *' ?.'::@= *+;-99A Icroy C. S inks" PCritical E7a2ination ofH. 8* "o(man9s &roposed Structure of the Revelation'5 2v1 IC ?.':;@= %..-%%A h. A. Strand" The )pen Gates of *eaven, %nd ed. ?Ann Arbor" #I" .':%@" (;. 26 Rev :J +A :='-.%A =;A-6J ..=.+-.'A .+=+-;A .'=..;" etc. *: Rev :;66J 3;7*.&".%.62J :=.&".%A ..=.+".:" etc.

;.

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 reflect these characteristics and utiliNe the2 to clarify the authorGs intention. Je turn no0 to a ro osed 2ethod for Pbreakin! the codeP of this fascinatin! book" 0ith s ecial e2 hasis on ho0 to discover and validate allusions to HohnGs 64 sources.

Interpretin! Revelation
4he realities reviously observed in the te7t of Revelation su!!est that the inter reter should take four funda2ental ste s in his study= ?.@ #ake a basic e7e!esis ?or e7 lanation@ of the assa!e bein! studied. ?%@ E7a2ine relevant arallels in other arts of Revelation. ?*@ Find the 64 root sources of the i2a!ery. ?(@ $iscover if the 54 e7 ands the 2eanin! of those sy2bols in the li!ht of the Christ-event.

-asic .xe/esis
4he first ste to0ard understandin! the 2essa!e of Revelation is to deter2ine 0hat the author 0as sayin! to his ori!inal readers in their ti2e" lace" and circu2stances. 4he ter2 Pe7e!esisP is a loan0ord fro2 the Greek 0hich 2eans to Pdra0 out.P 4hus it has co2e to desi!nate the rocess of lettin! the biblical te7t s eak for itself" rather than i2 osin! on the assa!e a 2eanin! that ori!inates 0ith the reader. Conse1uently" basic e7e!esis !ives attention to the 2eanin! of 0ords ?by the use of le7icons and theolo!ical dictionaries@" to synta7 ?ho0 0ords relate to each other in a sentence@" to the structure of the assa!e and its i22ediate conte7t" and to the relationshi the assa!e has to its conte2 orary situation. 4he conte2 orary situation is clarified by learnin! 0hat can be kno0n about the first hearers and their social settin!" the concerns that ro2 ted the author to 0rite" and arallel literature of the ti2e" if available. Hel ful introductions to Revelation can be found in 2ost co22entaries and in PIntroductions to the NT*5 For Revelation" an e7a2ination of other a ocaly tic 0ritin!s is articularly hel ful. Such 2ethods of e7e!esis" carefully carried out" yield a reasonably clear understandin! of 2ost 54 books. But in Revelation they roduce an unsatisfyin! result. It is 1uite ossible in Revelation to kno0 full 0ell 0hat Hohn is sayin! and still have absolutely no idea 0hat he 2eans.*; 4hus" a broader" 2ore theolo!ical 2ethod of e7e!esis is necessary to do Lustice to the A ocaly se.
*; Hatver" :.

"2

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

&arallels 8it$in Revelation 4he ne7t ste is to e7a2ine ho0 the sy2bols and structures of a !iven assa!e are used else0here in Revelation. Jhen the author has clearly defined his intention in the conte7t" it is ointless to search outside the book for creative inter retations. For e7a2 le" in *=%. and ..=.; the author has rovided an inter retive su22ary in advance of the 2aterial to follo0. 4o i!nore that su22ary in favor of so2e e7ternal PkeyP 0ould li2it" rather than enhance" the understandin! of his intention. Revelation is uni1ue for its incredibly inter0oven structure. 4his is so 2uch so that the key to 2aterial at one end of the book 2ay often be found at the o osite end. 4he i22ediate conte7t of any assa!e 2ay be as broad as the entire book. E7a2 les of obvious arallel structures in Revelation include the tru2 ets and the bo0ls" and the rider on the 0hite horse in cha ters 9 and .'. 4he e7a2ination of such arallel structures enables the student to a ly to difficult assa!es insi!hts obtained fro2 clearer ones. For e7a2 le" 2ost e7e!etes a!ree that the seven bo0ls or la!ues ?cha . .9@ are Lud!2ents of God on those 0ho have reLected Hi2. It 0ould a ear reasonable" then" to e7 ect a si2ilar the2e in the seven tru2 ets" a se!2ent on 0hich there is little a!ree2ent. T$e Old Testament Source The ne7t i2 ortant ste is to deter2ine to 0hich assa!e?s@ of the 64 Hohn is alludin!. As 0e 2ove into this crucial section the reader is re2inded of the earlier discussion on the divine>hu2an authorshi of Revelation. 4he i2 ression left by the book is of heavenly visions 0ritten out by one 0ho carefully researched his e7 ressions in the 64 Scri tures. Since Hohn on 8at2os 2ay not have had access to the 64" it is ossible that he 2ay have PresearchedP his 2e2ory or had the allusions brou!ht to his 2ind directly by God. Jhether the allusions arose in the 2ind of God or of Hohn" ho0ever" they reflect both the 2ind of God and the 2ind of Hohn to 0hich God revealed Hi2self. As 0as ointed out earlier" e7 ressions such as Pthe author"P PHohnGs intent"P or Pthe Revelator citesP are not to be understood to i2 ly that the book of Revelation is 2erely a hu2an roduct. Such e7ressions are 2erely a convenient 0ay of referrin! to the co2 le7ity of the divine>hu2an authorshi of the book in its totality.
"3

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

It beco2es increasin!ly evident to those 0ho study Revelation in de th that the e7 ressions in the books are thorou!hly saturated 0ith 64 lan!ua!e" history" and ideas. 4hus" it is i2 ossible to understand Revelation ri!htly if its 64 back!round is not taken seriously. PJe can say in a !eneral 0ay" that until 0e have succeeded in layin! out the 6ld lesta2ent source for an a ocaly tic ro hecy" 0e have not inter reted that assa!e.P*' It is only 0hen the 64 back!round is understood that Revelation can be e7 ected to yield secrets that 2ay have been erfectly lain to the firstcentury reader.(& 4he roble2 is ho0 to kno0 0hat 64 assa!e?s@ Hohn had in 2ind 0hen he 0rote.(. 4he revelator never cites the 64 ho0everA
*A

0 0

he 2erely alludes to it.K 4he roble2 of identifyin! an allusion beco2es 2ore co2 licated 0hen 0e discover that on 2any occasions Hohn a ears to have 1uoted loosely fro2 2e2ory"(* or ada ted the 64 lan!ua!e to fit his need. (( It is also 1uite ossible that he used a different te7t tradition than 0e have available to us.(+ 4o co2 licate 2atters even 2ore" the 64 is 0ritten in a different lan!ua!e fro2 the 54 4hus" 64 e7 ressions in Hebre0 are found in Ptranslation GreekP in the 54(9 It 0ould si2 lify 2atters a !reat deal if the author of Revelation had al0ays 1uoted fro2 a Greek translation of the
*' Heinrich Fraft" &ie D""enbamng$es#ohannes, Handbuch Nu2 5euen 4esta2ent" .9a ?4ubin!en" .':(@= .9" trans. 2ine. (& Eu!enio Corsini" The po!alypse, 0ood Ne(s Studies" vol* +" trans* 1rancis B* #oloney ?Jil22!ton" DE' .';*@" **A Hoyt" ..%" :A Ro%ert f* #ouncc" The ook o" Revelation, 5IC54" .: E0rand Ra ids" .'::@= *'A Mcrrill C4enncy" InterpretingRevelation E0rand Rapids' .'+:@" ..%. (. Ro%ert Horton 0undry' The (seofthe)%d Testamentin St. )atthew+s 'ospel, Su le2ents to NT 6= ?Ieiden" .'9:@= (-+A 4enney" .&.A Iconhard 8. 4rudin!er" P4he Te t of the 6ld 4esta2ent in the "oo# of RevelationP E&$*D* dissertation" "oston /niversity" .'9*@" (&A 3os" .;-.'"66A* :A Contrast Revelation 0ith the Gos el of#atlhc00ho usually identifies the OTsource of his 1uotations. #atthe0 %=.:".'A *=*A etc. A. 3anhoyc" PIGutilisation du livre dGENechiel dans IGA ocaly se"PffiX (* ?.'9%@A (*9. (* Franklin Hohnson" The Muotations o" the New Testament Rrom the )%d ?8hiladel hia" .;'9@" %'A D* Moody S2ith" Hr." 5T$e /se of the Old 4esta2ent in t$e 5e0"P in The ;se o" the Dl$ Testament in the New an$ Dther Essays, cd. Bames #. Efird ?$urha2" 5C" .':%@" 9.A Cra0ford Hc0ell Toy' Muotations in the New Testament ?5e0 Mork" .;;(@" * (( Collins" (%A Corsini" *%A Ed0in $. Freed" Dl$ Testament Muotations in the 'ospel o" #ohn, Su le2ents to 54" .. ?Ieiden" .'9+@= .%'A Ernest Ieslie 4eenaaa,Jiving)essages Rrom4atmos ?5e0 Mork" .'(.@" +*A Ronald Q. 8reston and Anthony 4. Hanson" The Revelation o" Saint #ohn the &ivine ?Iondon" .'('@" *+A F. Sta!!" PInter retin! the Book of Revelation"P RevE0p :% ?.':+@= ***-*(A FristerStcndahl" The S!hool o" St. )atthew ?/ sala" .'+(@" .+'A 3anhoyc" (9.-:%A 3os" %*-*%. (+ Ro!er 5icole" ZA Study of the 6ld 4esta2ent Cuotations in the 5e0 4esta2ent Jith Reference to the $octrine of the Ins iration of the Scri turesP ?#.S.4. 4hesis" Gordon Colle!e of 4heolo!y and #issions" .'(&@" '-..A 4enney" .&*A 4rudin!er" .:. (9 5icole" ..-.%. "4

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 64 such as the Se tua!int. But recent studies have sho0n Revelation to diver!e 0idely fro2 the Se tua!int. It is 1uite ossible that Hohn did the translatin!" (: and at ti2es utiliNed te7t traditions 0ith 0hich 0e are relatively unfa2iliar" such as the Ara2aic tar!u2s and the Hebre0 te7t tradition re resented at Cu2ran.(; 4hus" the search for allusions cannot be considered scientifically co2 lete 0ithout a far 0ider e7a2ination of 64 sources than has been ossible in the ast (' Fortunately" it is not necessary to identify every allusion to the Hebre0 Bible in order to res ond to Revelation.+& 5evertheless" careful controls 2ust be ut in lace if a list of 64 arallels to Revelation is to be 0orth anythin!. +. It is interestin! to observe that .& 2aLor co22entators on the book of Revelation offer 0idely differin! lists of allusions to the 64 in the A ocaly se. +% 4his de2onstrates that the task is not an easy one. Two #inds o, allusions* Before outlinin! a 2ethod for deter2inin! the resence of an 64 allusion 0e 2ust distin!uish bet0een t0o kinds of allusions. 6ne kind assu2es the authorGs intention to oint the reader to a revious 0ork as a 2eans of e7 andin! the readerGs horiNons. 4he ortion of the te7t under study can be understood only in the li!ht of the allusion in its ori!inal conte7t. +* An intentional allusion such as this is called a Pdirect allusion.P 4he other kind of allusion" 0hich 0e 0ill call an Pecho"P does not de end on the authorGs conscious a0areness of an earlier literary usa!e. #any of the literary fi!ures in Revelation 0ere Pin the airP of the environ2ent in 0hich Hohn lived. ++ 4hou!h he utiliNes a Plive sy2bol"P referred to in doNens of laces in the 64" he is not necessarily a0are of its history.
(: R. H. Charles" The Revelation o" St. #ohn. ICC ?Edinbur!h" .'%&@" l=l7vi. := Lcon$ard &* 4rudin!er" PSo2e 6bservations Concernin! the Te t of the Old 4esta2ent in the "oo# of Revelation"P #TS, n*s*' .: ?.'99@= ;%-;;. (' In addition to the Se tua!int" Greek translations such as A1uila" Sy22achus" and 4heodotionA Ara2aic 4ar!u2s such as 5eoHti I and 8seudo-Honathan to the &entateuc$' and the #asoretic" Pumran' and Sa2aritan traditions of the +e%re( should be consulted. +& Collins" (("(;. 36 Matt$e( Black" PSo2e 0ree# Jords Jith GHebre0B #eanin!s in t$e E istles and A ocaly se"P in Bibli!al Stu$ies, Essays in Honour o" -lliam Bar!lay, eds* Hohnston R* McDay and Ha2es F. #iller ?Iondon" .':9@" .*+. +% See 2y book" &e!o$ing Revelation+s Trumpets, Andre0s /niversity Se2inary $issertation Series" .. ?Bcrrien S rin!s" #l" .';;@= .%.-+(. +* 5ote the 0ords of Hohn Hollander in his The Rigure o" E!ho, )o$e o" llusion in )ilton an$ "ter ?Berkeley" CA" .';.@" '+= P4he te7t alluded to is not totally absent" but is art of the ortable library shared by the author and his ideal audience. Intention to allude reco!niNably is essential to the conce t.P +( Ibid." 9(. 33 Ric$ard T* Allick" The rt o" Jiterary Resear!h ?5e0 Mork" .':+@" '(.

"5

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

Rather" he dra0s fro2 a co22on stock of lan!ua!e readily understood by his readers.+9 An echo is thus divorced fro2 its ori!inal conte7t. 4o list 64 assa!es 0here an echo is found is not hel ful. Jhat 2atters is the basic 2eanin! of the echo. A !ood e7a2 le of an echo is the fi!ure of ve!etation as a sy2bol for the eo le of God. /sed 0ith such re!ularity" it a ears to have attained a fi7ed 2eanin! by 54 ti2es.+: 4his in no 0ay e7cludes" ho0ever" the ossibility that an echo of fairly fi7ed 2eanin! could be a lied differently in different conte7ts.+; ij su22ariNe" allusive references to the 64 can enter Revelation in t0o 0ays. Hohn 2ay use an 64 source directly and consciously 0ith its ori!inal conte7t in 2ind. Such an allusion is GG0illed into bein!.BG +' Hohn is fully conscious of the source as 0ell as its relevance to his co2 osition. He assu2es the readerGs kno0led!e of both the source and the authorGs intention to refer to that source.9& 6n the other hand" the revelator 2ay PechoP 64 ideas" the ori!in of 0hich does not concern hi2. In an echo he does not oint the reader to a articular back!round sourceA he 2erely utiliNes a Plive sy2bolP that 0ill be understood !enerally by his conte2 orary readers. 4he distinction bet0een direct allusions and echoes is very si!nificant for the study of Revelation. In failin! to 2ake this distinction" co22entators have at ti2es inter reted echoes as thou!h the author intended his reader to incor orate a source conte7t into his understandin! of Revelation. 4he distinction bet0een allusions and echoes actually calls for t0o different a roaches to inter retation" de endin! on the nature of the authorGs relationshi to a articular source in a !iven assa!e. 9. Direct allusions. The resence of a direct allusion re1uires the interreter to trace the 2aterial to its source. 9% Hohn assu2es that the source literature is fa2iliar and that the reader can dra0 insi!hts fro2 the conte7t of the source that enhance his understandin! of the ro hecy of Revelation. But in order to handle direct allusions ro erly" it is necessary to identify their sources correctly.
+9 Hedrik" .:A $ou!las ENell" Revelations on Revelation ?Jaco" 4D" .'::@" %.. +: i* &s .=*A Isa +=.-:A Bcr <,<F (it$ Rev =J<J '=(. +; Contrast Rev :=.-* and 7;:' ($ere the !recnety is rotected bya 2art fro2 GodGs Lud!2ents" 0ith Rev ;=: ($ere !recneiy is destroyed by 0od9s Lud!2ents. +' Carios "a#er' The 2choin$ Green ?8rinceton" NB' .';(@" :-;. 9& +ollander' .&9. 9. Altic#' '+-'9. 9% Hollander" .&9.

"6

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 4he rocedure for identifyin! direct allusions 0orks by a rocess of eli2ination. Su!!ested arallels 2ay be !athered fro2 co22entaries" 2ar!inal references" and lists of 64 allusions. 4hese are then e7a2ined to see if they 2eet one or 2ore of the three criteria for a direct allusion ?see belo0@. 4he 2ore criteria a reference 2eets" the 2ore likely it is that Hohn had this articular 64 assa!e in 2ind 0hen he 0rote that ortion of Revelation. 4he three criteria are as follo0s= 3. 4er,a% para%%e%s. 4he ter2 P1uotationP is not clearly defined in the literature.9* Ho0ever" a 0orth0hile definition is !iven by 4rudin!er= 9( 5One can be said to be 1uotin! 0hen one uses 0ord co2binations in a for2 in 0hich one 0ould not have used the2 had it not been for a kno0led!e of their occurrence in this articular for2 in another source.P By this definition it is evident that the ter2 P1uotationP can only rarely" i, ever" be a lied to the revelatorGs use of the 64 6nly on occasion does Hohn use 2ore than three or four 0ords in the sa2e se1uence in 0hich they are found in the 64 9+ 4hus" verbal arallels 2ust be understood in a broader sense than 1uotations. A verbal arallel" therefore" is defined as occurrin! 0henever at least t0o 0ords of 2ore than 2inor si!nificance ?articles" re ositions" and 2inor conLunctions are nor2ally e7cluded@ are arallel bet0een a assa!e in Revelation and a assa!e in the Se tua!int or other first-century A.$. version.99 4hese t0o 2aLor 0ords 2ay be cou led to!ether in a hrase" or they 2ay even be se aratedK rovided they are in clear relationshi to each other in both assa!es of the su!!ested arallel. 3erbal arallels are discovered by lacin! the te7t of Revelation side by side 0ith the otential source te7t. Jordin! that is e7act or si2ilar is underscored" and the otential relationshi bet0een the assa!es is assessed on a reli2inary basis. A !ood e7a2 le of a verbal arallel is found in Revelation '=%" PAnd the s2oke of the it 0ent u like the s2oke of a !reat furnaceP ?trans. by author@. 4his bears a strikin! rese2blance to the 0ordin! of E7odus .'=.;

62 4rudin!er" P4he Te t of t$e Old 4esta2ent in the Book of Revelation"P .%-.+. 9( 4rudin!er" PSo2e O%servations Concernin! t$e Te t of the 6ld 4esta2ent in the "oo# of Revelation"P ;%. 9+ 4enney" .&.. 66 T$e versions e7tant in Ori!en9s He0apta >!". Fredericus Field. )ri$enis He0aplorum, % vols. THildeshei2= Geor! 6l2s 3erla!sbuchhandlun!" .'9(U@ likely reflect at least so2e readin!s current 0hen Revelation 0as 0ritten. 3erbal arallels do not 0ork in translation unless transliteration is involved. E.!." P#essiahP is clearly a verbal arallel of the +e%re( meshia!h.

"7

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

in the Se tua!int.9: An e7a2 le of a verbal arallel 0here t0o key 0ords are not inti2ately connected !ra22atically can be seen by co2 arin! Revelation '=% 0ith Genesis .=%.9; 4he 2ore 2aLor 0ords that are found in co22on" the !reater the likelihood that a direct allusion is resent. A direct allusion is not to be assu2ed 0ith every verbal arallelA the observation of co22on 0ordin! is only art of the rocess of accu2ulatin! evidence for a direct allusion. A* The#atic para%%e%s. #any ti2es the revelator clearly has an 64 assa!e in 2ind but uses a different Greek 0ord fro2 the Se tua!int" or uses only a sin!le 0ord to 2ake the connection. 4his should not be sur risin!. Allusions by their very nature are not bound to re roduce the recise 0ordin! of the ori!inal.9' 4hey 2ay involve ideas as 0ell as 0ordin!" and include both si2ilarity of the2e and deliberate contrast. :& Such sin!le-0ord arallels are distin!uished fro2 PechoesP in that there is an a arent the2atic relationshi bet0een the conte7ts in 0hich the arallel 0ords are found. 4he2atic arallels can be found not only by co2 arin! 0ith the Se tua!int" but also by co2 arin! the intent of the Greek of Revelation 0ith the Hebre0 and Ara2aic 64 :. Such Greek>Se2itic e1uivalents are laced in a se arate cate!ory because of the !reater level of uncertainty as to the authorGs intention. An e7a2 le of a the2atic arallel is !iven by 4enney. :% He notes that 0hile the ter2 Pal2i!htyP occurs 2any ti2es in the 64" only in A2os (=.* ?IDD@ is it used in a conte7t that is arallel to Revelation .=;. 4he conce t of arallel conte7ts rovides a safe!uard a!ainst indiscri2inate selection. Another the2atic arallel 2ay be found by co2 arin! Revelation '=( and ENekiel '=(. In both cases a 2ark is laced on the forehead for the urose of rotection a!ainst the Lud!2ents of God. 4he t0o assa!es are clearly arallel even thou!h a different Greek 0ord for P2arkP is used. :*
9: Rev '=%" .ai anetiS.apnos ek touphreatos os .apnos .aminou megalesS E od .'=.; in the L//' .ui ane,ainen ho kapnos, hSSei kapnos ka#inou. 6= T$e key connections arc the ter2s PdarknessP ?noun" skotos5 verb" skotoo6 and PabyssP >abussos5. 0en F,<, L77,kaiskotos, epario Ds abussou. Rev 7;A' .aienoi0en to phrear "Ss abussou.. ..ai es.o"""thS ho *e%ios kai ho aSr. 67 Vos' 66A* :& "a#er' .&A Teoncy' .&.. :. Cf. Martin #c5a2ara" The New Testa#ent an$ the 4alestinian Targum to the 4entateu!h, Analecta "i%lica'vol* %:a EAnd rintin!0ith sup*' Rome' .':;@A and 4rudin!er" 5Some 6bservations Concernin! the Te t of the Old Testament in t$e "oo# of Revelation*5 :% 4enney" .&%. :* EFe# '=(" L//' sSSmeionT, Rev 7;:' sphragi$a.

Inter retin! RevelationBs Sy2bolis2

Ho0ever" it is not to be assu2ed auto2atically fro2 this arallel alone that the revelator 0as ointin! to ENekiel '=(. But the observation of this si2ilar the2e is art of the rocess of accu2ulatin! evidence to deter2ine HohnGs intention. B. Stru!tural parallels. At ti2es the seer of Revelation uses the 64 by buildin! on the literary or theolo!ical structure of 0hole sections 0ithout necessarily follo0in! the e7act 0ordin!. :( A structural arallel occurs 0hen Hohn 2odels a !iven assa!e on an 64 te7t" utiliNin! its lan!ua!e and the2es in rou!hly the sa2e order. A !ood e7a2 le of such a structural arallel can be seen by co2 arin! Revelation '=.-.. 0ith Hoel %=.-... 5otice that both assa!es be!in 0ith a tru2 et call" 2ention darkness" a locust ar2y" a descri tion of that ar2y" and finally a reference to the leader of that ar2y. 6ther arallels bet0een the t0o assa!es include the an7iety of those affected by the locust ar2y" the darkenin! of the sun" and the noise of chariots. :+ Structural arallels are not li2ited to arallel assa!es. At ti2es they occur in relation to lar!er historical or theolo!ical structures that !o beyond s ecific 64 assa!es. For e7a2 le" the seven tru2 ets as 0ell as the seven last la!ues of Revelation are un1uestionably arallel to the la!ues of the E7odus described e7 licitly in E7odus :-.% and other ortions of the 64 ?8ss :;" .&+. .*+" .*9@ and i2 licitly in a 2ultitude of references in the ro hets. 4he 64 accounts of Creation" the fall of Babylon and the con1uest of Hericho also see2 to lie in the back!round of the 2aterial in the seven tru2 ets. 4he above 2ay sound si2ilar to the2atic arallels" but there is a subtle and i2 ortant difference. A the2atic arallel is li2ited to a articular idea in Revelation 0hich has a otential redecessor in a s ecific 64 assa!e. Alon! 0ith verbal arallels" the2atic arallels 2ake u the basic buildin! blocks by 0hich decisions concernin! influence can be 2ade.
:( G. F. Beale" The ;se o" &aniel in #ewish po!alypti! Jiterature an$ in the Revelation o" St. #ohn ?Ianha2" #$" .';(@" *&:A Hcdrik" .:A 3anhcye" ((&-(.. 4his criterion includes 0hat #orion S2ith ? . :;"..+@ calls P8arallels of Iitcraiy For2P and P8arallels in 4y es of Association.P Iars Hart2an >4rophe!y Interprete$, trans. 5eil 4o2kinson" Coniectanea Biblica" 5e0 4esta2ent Series" 5o. . T/ sala" .'99U" .%9@ a ears to be su!!estin! so2ethin! si2ilar to 2y conce t of Pstructural arallelP in his use of the hrase P atterns of thou!htP ? . '+"..;".*:@. He also notes ? . ;'@ that <ech .%=%-( rovides the Pfra2e0orkP for . Enoch +9=+-;. :+ Further e7a2 les of arallels in literary structure 2ay %e seen by co2 arin! Rev .=.%-.; 0ith $an :='-.* and Dan .&A Rev .* 0ith $an * and :A Rev .; (it$ ENek %9-%;A and Rev .'=..B.9 0ith Isa 9*=.-9. So2e even su!!est that the entire book of Revelation is structured to arallel the book o, ENekiel. E-!-' see M* D* Gouldcr" P4he A ocaly se as an Annual Cycle of 8ro hecies"P NTS %: ?.';.@= *(*.+&A 3anhoyc" (*9-:9A 3o!el!esan!" 99-:%.

".

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 In contrast" structural arallels occur if a section of Revelation is based either on a literary redecessor ?such as Hoel %=.-.. for Rev '=.-..@ or on a lar!e theolo!ical structure such as the E7odus the2e. Such structural arallels nor2ally co2 rise a nu2ber of verbal and>or the2atic arallels. Summary of criteria* In order to 1ualify as a direct allusion to the DT, a 0ord or hrase in Revelation 2ust 2eet at least one of the above criteria. #any 0ill 2eet 2ore than one. 6f the three" verbal arallels are often the 0eakest criterion. 4heir value as evidence increases" ho0ever" as the nu2ber of arallel 0ords increases and to the e7tent that the arallel 0ords are ordered in a si2ilar 0ay in both assa!es. Since structural arallels consist of a nu2ber of interlockin! verbal and the2atic arallels" they nor2ally constitute the stron!est evidence for a direct allusion. 4he 2ore criteria a articular ro osed allusion fits" the 2ore certain it is that the author consciously 2olded his assa!e 0ith that 64 conte7t in 2ind. 9 Certainty is also affected by the nu2ber of assa!es in revious literature in 0hich articular 0ords" conce ts" and structures are found. Jhen a !iven arallel is uni1ue in rior literature" the likelihood that Hohn is directin! our attention to that articular assa!e is corres ondin!ly increased.:G Classi,ication o, Direct Allusions 6ur listin! of allusions to the 64 in Revelation are only robabilities. 4he one 0ho creates the list of allusions 2ust" therefore" indicate the level of uncertainty involved and" 0here ossible" the reasons for that uncertainty. 8otential allusions 2ay be classified into five cate!ories of robability= certain allusions" robable allusions" ossible allusions" uncertain allusions" and nonallusions. Certain allusions. 4hese e7ist 0hen the evidence for de endence is so over0hel2in! that the inter reter is certain or virtually so that Hohn 0as ointin! to the antecedent te7t. An e7a2 le of a certain allusion is the reference to the seventh la!ue on E!y t in the first tru2 et ?cf. E7od '=%*-%9A Rev ;=:@. 4he la!ues of the E7odus are a structural arallel underlyin! the seven tru2 ets as a 0hole. 4hus" 0e 0ould e7 ect Hohn to reflect s ecific la!ues at various oints
76 3?!?Sodo, ccordin0to the Scriptures 'Zondon! 1.52]! 126. 77 )artman! "5!155.

.$

in the narrative. 4he action of both the first tru2 et and the seventh la!ue ori!inates in heaven" involves a 2i7ture of hail and fire fallin! to the earth" and results in destruction to the ve!etation of the earth. 4here is also a the2atic arallel= both strokes are divine Lud!2ents on those 0ho o ose God and His eo le. 4his confluence of evidence lends this direct allusion a hi!h level of certainty that is rare in Revelation. &ro%a%le allusions* Such a classification is assi!ned a assa!e 0hen evidence for its relationshi is considerable but falls short of co2 lete certainty. An e7a2 le of a robable allusion is the relationshi bet0een the first tru2 et and ENekiel *;=%%. 4he verbal and the2atic arallels are virtually as e7tensive as is the case 0ith E7odus '=%*-%9. 5ot only so" but the co2bination of hail" fire" an$ blood bein! used in Lud!2ent is uni1ue to ENekiel *;. Ho0ever" the seven tru2 ets are a ortion of Revelation that has only 2ini2al references to ENekiel" so the structural arallel is absent. 4hus" there is enou!h uncertainty concernin! this direct allusion to cause it to be classified as P robableP rather than Pcertain.P 5evertheless" since both certain and robable allusions are considered likely to have been in the 2ind of the revelator 0hen he 0rote" the inter reter should take the source te7tGs ori!inal conte7t into account 0hen inter retin! the assa!e in Revelation 0hich contains the allusion. &ossi%le allusions. Jith a ossible allusion there is enou!h evidence to indicate that Hohn may have been 2akin! a direct allusion to the 64 assa!e" but not enou!h to be reasonably certain. An e7a2 le of a ossible allusion is the relationshi bet0een the first tru2 et and Isaiah *&=*&. In Isaiah *&=*& fire and hail are oured out as Lud!2ents on the Assyrians. Ho0ever" thou!h the first tru2 et contains a verbal and a the2atic arallel to Isaiah *&=*&" there is no structural arallel to s eak of" and the other arallels are relatively 0eak. 4hus" it is ossible that Hohn had this 64 assa!e in 2ind 0hen he 0rote the first tru2 et" but there is not enou!h evidence for a reasonable certainty. Such a arallel 2ay be instructive to the inter reter but should never be used as the sole evidence for an inter retation. )ncertain allusions* 4hese see2 to have so2e arallel ideas" but the allusions are very 0eak. 5onetheless" the inter reter cannot conclusively deny that they are direct allusions. In the 2ar!in of the 5estle-Aland t0enty-si7th edition of the Greek 5e0 4esta2ent" ENekiel +=.% is listed as arallel to the first tru2 et. 4he lack of verbal and the2atic arallels indicates that it is uncertain that Hohn '.

had ENekiel +=.% s ecifically in 2ind here" althou!h the e7 ression Pthird artP is resent in both assa!es. But if the conce t of a PthirdP 0as dra0n fro2 the DT, it 0as robably based on ENekiel +=.-( or <echariah .*=;-' rather than on this assa!e.G; 4he conte7t of an uncertain allusion should not be used in inter retin! Revelation" but it could be a source for definin! one or 2ore Pechoes.P Nonallusions* 4he cate!ory of PnonallusionsP is relevant only 0hen evaluatin! lists of su!!ested allusions. After e7a2ination" the inter reter concludes that there is no evidence that the author intended a arallel bet0een the t0o te7ts. Eu!en Huhn" for e7a2 le" felt that the first tru2 et 2ade reference to Isaiah %=.* in 0hich trees are used as a sy2bol of the roud and hau!hty 0ho2 God 0ill hu2ble. :' 4he absence of a verbal arallel in the Greek" and of any the2atic or structural arallels" denies this su!!ested arallel the status of a direct allusion. IsaiahGs definition of trees" ho0ever" 2ay be PechoedP by Hohn in the first tru2 et. 4he conclusions of such study 2ust" of course" re2ain so2e0hat tentative. But it is not necessary to trace every arallel to the 64 in order to understand the basic 2essa!e of the book.&& Jhile the inter reter 2ust be o en to ne0 evidence that 2ay cause articular arallels to be re-evaluated fro2 ti2e to ti2e" the above rocedure laces on a 2ore obLective basis the inter retation of direct allusions to the 64 in Revelation. T$e Ne( Testament Je have noticed already that the book of Revelation is a Christian book and is filled 0ith a 2ultitude of arallels to the other books of the 54. Jhat 0e have in the A ocaly se is a state2ent fro2 Hesus in P2any" 2any ictures.P ;. As a veritable su22ary of the 54 2essa!e" it is ri!htly laced at the end of the 54 canon. ;% $ra0in! arallels fro2 both 4esta2ents su!!ests that the book of Revelation is virtually a su22ary state2ent of the the2es of the 0hole Bible. ;* 6ne scholar calls the A ocaly se Pthe finale of the Biblical sy2:; ENekiel 3;6A could conceivably be listed 0ith +=.-(" 0hich is a robable allusion" but this 0ould add not$in! to our understandin! of the first tru2 et. :' Eu!en Huhn" "ie alttestamentli!he (itato un$ Reminis!en2en im Neuen Testament ?4ubin!en .'&&@" %(:. ;&Collins"(("(;. ;. Dari Lud(i! Sch2idt. 5Die Bilders rache in der Hohannes-A okafy se"P <A * ?.'(:@= .::. ;% +atver' +;. ;* Donation Mollat' iXnn- Je!ture pour auAow$+hui, J+ po!atypse, *nd ed. ?8aris" .';(@" *&.

.2

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2 hony.G.;( Another states" Pin this book all the other books of the Bible end and 2eet.P;+ 4he author of Revelation" therefore" does not use the lan!ua!e and ideas of the 64 in a 0oodenly literal fashion. ;9 4he 2eanin! 0hich the 64 allusions su!!est for the sy2bols of Revelation 2ust be seen in the li!ht of the Christ-event. ;: 4he victory of Hesus Christ is the ne0 or!aniNin! rinci le of history in Revelation.;; It is clear that his e7 erience 0ith Hesus and the ins iration of the Holy S irit ?.=.&@ has led Hohn to ChristianiNe the 64 2aterials 0ith 0hich he 0as 0orkin!. ;' 4hus" 0e too 2ust inter ret these conce ts throu!h the ris2 of the Christ-event. '& 4he best 0ay to do this is to seek out 54 arallels for the 64 e7 ressions in Revelation. 4his rocess can roceed by 2eans of the sa2e 2ethod used to deter2ine 64 allusions in Revelation. 4he 0riters of the 54 understood Christ to be the fulfill2ent of the basic intent of the 64'. 4his is true not only of selected #essianic ro hecies" but of the entire s ectru2 of 64 history. Hesus is the ne0 creation ?% Cor +=.:@" born by 2eans of the S irit that overshado0s #ary ?cf. Lu#e .=*+ 0ith Gen .=%@. He is the ne0 Ada2 ?Ro2+and . Cor .+@= 2ade in the i2a!e of God ?% Cor (=(A Col .=.+@" 2arried to a ne0 Eve ?E h +=*%-**Kthe church@" and in full do2inion over the earth ?Hohn 9=.9%.@" over the Fish of the sea ?Iuke +=.-..A Hohn %.@" and over every livin! thin! ?#ark ..=%@. Hesus Christ is a ne0 #oses ?Hohn +=(+-(:@ 0ho is threatened at His birth by a hostile kin! ?#att %@" s ends (& days fastin! in the 0ilderness" rules over .% and ordains :&" !ives the la0 fro2 a hi!h 2ountain ?#att +=.-%@" feeds His eo le 0ith bread fro2 heaven ?Hohn 9=%;-*+@" and ascends to heaven after His resurrection. He is the ne0 Israel" 0ho co2es out of E!y t ?#att %@" asses throu!h the 0aters ?#att *=.*-.:@" is led by the S irit into the 0ilderness" asses throu!h the 0aters a second ti2e ?Iuke
=: I%id* =3 Ro%ert Bamicson' A* 1* Fausset" and $avid "ro(n* (ommentary 4ra!ti!al an$ E0planatory on the Who%e i,%e Ereprint ed*' 0rand Ra ids" .'9.@" .+%9. Note Ellen JhiteGs a rovin! ara hrase o, t$is statement in The !ts o" the postles ?#t. 3ie0" CA' .'..@" +;+ ?verbal and the2atic arallelG@. =6 Vos' *9-(&. =< EFelt' %*A Desmond Ford" Crisis 6 ?5e0castle" CA" .';%@= ';A Dra,t' ;+A &ierre Icstrin!ant" Essai swi+wule$e la revelation bibliaue E&aris' .'(%@" .+%. == +einric$ Sch(er. esinnun$aufdasNeue Testament ?Freibur!" .'9(@" *9.. =7 "an^' :A* 7M EFetl' %*A Ford" 7=* 76 Hohn +=*'-(&A Lu#e %(=%+-%:" ((-(:. An e7cellent study fro2 an Advcntist ers ective is Hans LaRondelte' The Israel of God in 4rophe!y ?Berrien S rin!s" MI' .';*@.

.3

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

.%=+&Kba tis2 at the cross@ and enters the heavenly Canaan. Such e7a2 les could be 2ulti lied. In the 54 Hesus is the ne0 Isaac" the ne0 $avid" the ne0 Solo2on" the ne0 Elisha" the ne0 Hoshua" and the ne0 Cyrus. 4he 54 0riters see HesusB life" death" and resurrection as fulfillin! the 0hole e7 erience of GodGs eo le fro2 Ada2 to Hohn the Ba tist. Ho0 0as the Christian to relate to this historyS In fulfillin! the 0hole 64 in His o0n e7 erience" Hesus 0as actualiNin! that e7 erience for all 0ho are Pin hi2.P In Hi2 the believer beco2es a true Israelite ?Gal *=%'A Acts .*=*%-**A % Cor .=%&@ 0hen he confesses that Hesus is the #essiah ?Hohn .=(:-+&@" the 6ne 0ho 0as to fulfill the ho es of Israel. 4hus the 0hole 64 is 2ade relevant to the Christianas e7 erience. 4he believer in Christ is art of a ne0 Israel. '% P4here is no chan!e in the hraseolo!y e2 loyed in the 5e0 4esta2ent" but there is ositively a chan!e re!ardin! the eo le to 0ho2 these ro hecies and desi!nations no0 a ly. In the 54A the church is s oken of in the lan!ua!e e2 loyed in the 64 concernin! Israel.P'* 4he NT transfer of the ter2 PIsraelP fro2 the He0ish nation to the church has a rofound i2 act on the 0ay 64 history and ro hecy is laced in the service of the church. 4he 54 universaliNes the covenant ro2ises. '( Israel is no lon!er to be seen in ethnic or !eo!ra hic ter2s ?. 8et %=(-.&A Ha2es .=.@" the Shekinah is seen in the !atherin! of those 0ho believe in Hesus ?#att .;=%&@. 4he true te2 le on earth is s iritual and 0orld0ide" 2odeled after the true tabernacle in heavenly laces. Babylon and E!y t are also s iritualiNed and re resent the ene2ies of the church. 4hus" 64 i2a!ery should not be 0oodenly a lied to the book of Revelation. Iike the authors of the 5., Hohn is fully conscious of the i2 act of the Christ-event on s iritual realities. /nless the si!nificance of Hesus Christ and His cross is allo0ed to er2eate the sy2bols of Revelation" the resultin! inter retation 0ill not be a Christian one" no 2atter ho0 often Christ 2ay be na2ed in its e7 lication.'9

'% Ibid." W%.. '* Iouis 1* 8ere' The )oral 4urpose o" 4rophe!y ?n. ." .'::@" *&. '( Hon &aulicn' revie0 of +ans IaRondelle" The Israel o" 'o$ in 4rophe!y, VSS %% ?.';(@= *:+. '+ % Cor 9=.(-.;A 0al (=%9A +e% ;=.-%. k An e7cellent a lication of this rinci le can be found in Hans F. IaRondelle" (hariots o" Salvation ?Jashin!ton" DC* .';:@" .&;-.(+.

.4

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

Conclusion
Because of s ace li2itations this cha ter has been too brief to lay out all the i2 lications of an e7e!etical 2ethod for the study of Revelation. 4hus" as ects of the 2ethod that 2i!ht be ertinent to the s ecialist have been left out. 4hose 0ho 0ould like to e7 lore in de th the issues involved in the a lication of the 2ethod to the co2 le7ities of the ori!inal lan!ua!es 0ould be advised to e7a2ine 2y 2ore technical book on the subLectS: 4he 2ethod cannot be learned by the 2ere readin! of this cha ter. It 2ust be discovered in hands-on e7 erience 0ith the te7t. 4he 2ore ti2e one s ends e7a2inin! verbal" the2atic" and structural arallels" the 2ore of a feel one has for the dyna2ics involved in the authorGs use of lan!ua!e. In deter2inin! 0here the author is 2akin! a direct allusion 0e are dealin! in robabilities. Jhere 0e are uncertain 0hether Hohn is 2akin! a direct allusion" it 0ould be best to leave the 64 conte7t out of the discussion of that articular te7t in Revelation-Jhile not unreasonable" it is not historically certain that the author of Revelation had access to any of the 54 docu2ents ?his kno0led!e of 54 teachin! 2ay have co2e throu!h direct e7 erience 0ith Christ" oral tradition" and>or docu2ents no0 lost to history@. 4hus" it is !enerally safer to assu2e that Hohn builds on a co22only understood tradition rather than u on articular 54 docu2ents. 5o doubt the nons ecialist readin! this cha ter 0ill feel discoura!ed about the ossibilities of usin! such a 2ethod. Jith little e7 erience in the ractice of e7e!esis" little or no kno0led!e of He0ish a ocaly tic or of the cultural settin! of First-century Asia #inor" no kno0led!e of Greek" Hebre0" or Ara2aic" 2ost readers 0ill be te2 ted to thro0 u their hands in des air. Fortunately" 0hile the afore2entioned kno0led!e and skills are e7tre2ely hel ful" they are rarely critical to the inter retation of the book of Revelation. For e7a2 le" the vast 2aLority of allusions to the 64 in the book of Revelation are lainly evident even in En!lish translation. 4he a ocaly tic i2a!es of Revelation are certainly stran!eA but for those 0ho are fa2iliar 0ith the 64" the book loses a !reat deal of its stran!eness. It is to be !ranted" of course" that the scholarly s ecialistGs abilities and trainin! can safe!uard hi2>her fro2 faulty Lud!2ents based on inade1uate
.7 See }auiien! Decodin0 Revelation4s Tru+pets?

.5

Inter retin! RevelationGs Sy2bolis2

infor2ation. Ho0ever" individuals not fa2iliar 0ith the ori!inal lan!ua!es or 0ith ancient back!round 2aterials can contribute a !reat deal to the churchGs on!oin! !ro0th in this area by the a lication of other safe!uards such as the follo0in!= .. At every o ortunity for study the student of Revelation should ray earnestly for a learnin! attitude and an o enness to the leadin! of the Holy S irit. Jithout rayer and the enli!hten2ent of the Holy S irit" the 0ork of even the finest scholar 2ay subtly !o astray. $ivine intent is not 2astered by secular 2inds. 4he united testi2ony of Scri ture is that GodGs Pthou!hts are not your thou!htsP ?Isa ++=;@ and s iritual thin!s Pare s iritually discernedP ?. Cor %=.(@. %. 4he use of several translations can safe!uard Bible study fro2 the occasional aberration introduced by faulty translation or by errors in 2anuscri t trans2ission. 4hese can be su le2ented by the use of an analytical concordance" such as Stron!Gs or Moun!Gs" that 0ill lead the student back to the ori!inal 0ordin! 0ithout the need to learn an unfa2iliar al habet. *. 4he bulk of oneGs Bible study ti2e should be s ent in the sections of Scri ture that are reasonably clear- It is throu!h the clear assa!es of Scri ture that unclear assa!es" such as the seals and tru2 ets of Revelation" can be understood 2ore accurately. E7cessive fascination 0ith roble2atic te7ts and issues can result in !radual distortion of understandin!" leadin! to narro0 and often fanatical vie0s that 0ill divide the church. (. 4he results of detailed study" such as concordance searches and allusion analysis" should be co2 ared 0ith 2uch !eneral readin! of the Scri tures lest the obsession 0ith detail lead one a0ay fro2 the central thrust of the assa!es bein! studied. It is ossible to rove al2ost anythin! 0ith a concordance. 4his dan!er is 2ini2iNed" ho0ever" 0hen each assa!e is understood in the li!ht of 2uch !eneral readin! of the Scri tures in conte7t" referably in a clear and u -to-date translation 0here the broad conte7t can be seen to e2er!e. +. Sound 2ethods should be a lied to the contributions Ellen Jhite offers to the understandin! of difficult te7ts. '; #uch har2 can be done 0hen her authority in the church is used in a ha haNard 0ay" resultin! in a distortion of the Scri ture 0riterGs intention. Ri!htly understood" ins iration har2oniNes 0ith itself. 8rinci les * and ( above a ly also to the S irit
'; See in t$is volu2e c$ap* :" PEllen 0* 8$ite9s )se o, Daniel and Revelation.P and cha . ;" P4he Inter reterGs /se of the Jritin!s of Ellen 0* 8$ite*5

16

Inter retin! ReveIationGsSy2boIis2

of 8ro hecy 0ritin!s. 9. It is 0ise for individual inter reters to be o en to the constructive criticis2s of their eers" articularly those 0ho disa!ree 0ith the2. 4hose 0ho disa!ree 0ith us often can oint to realities in the te7t that 0e have 2issed because of our o0n narro0 ers ective. Such criticis2 is articularly valuable 0hen it co2es fro2 individuals 0ho are !ifted 0ith unusual ability and>or 0ith tools" such as the kno0led!e of the ori!inal lan!ua!es" that can aid in e7e!esis. In conclusion" the task outlined in this cha ter is not an easy one" but it is an e7citin! one. 4hrou!h a careful a lication of the 2ethod" Bible students can !ain a dee er understandin! of the 2essa!e of Revelation. As such understandin!s are shared 0ithin the body of the church" 2utual correction can take lace. 4o!ether" 0e can !ro0 in our understandin! of Revelation and 2ove to0ard that ro2ised !reat revival.P

'' Ellen 0* 8$ite' Testimonies to )inisters ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'9%@" ..*= PJhen 0e as a eo le understand 0hat this book TRevelationU 2eans to us" there 0ill be seen a2on! us a !reat revival.P

.7

C$apter V Sanctuary Typolo!y


Richard #. $avidson
Editorial Synopsis* Even a casual readin! of the Scri tures reveals that God s eaks to His eo le in a variety of 0ays. 4y olo!y is one of those 2ethods by 0hich the Holy S irit e7 lained in a concrete or ictorial 2anner the various facets of s iritual truth. 4he 2ind !ras s sy2bolic re resentation 2ore readily than it does abstract reasonin!. In this cha ter the 0riter defines biblical ty olo!y as Pdivinelydesi!ned refi!urations ?l the for2 of ersons>events>institutions@ that oint for0ard to their antity ical fulfill2ent in Christ and !os el realities brou!ht about by Christ.P A si!nificant ortion of ins ired Scri ture rests on this substructure of64 ty e and 54 fulfill2ent. Israelite 0orshi centered in the rites and festivals of the te2 le-sanctuary syste2. #ore than ritual" ho0ever" the syste2 itself co2 osed an inte!rated ty olo!y that foreshado0ed the Christ-event and the co2 lete carryin! out of the lan of salvation. 4he 54 reco!niNes a threefold fulfill2ent of all 64 ty es K includin! that of the institution of the sanctuary. 4hus" sanctuary ty olo!y finds in the 54 ?.@ a Christolo!ical fulfill2entKin that Christ is erceived as the true te2 le Hi2self ?Hohn .=.(A %=%.@A ?%@ an ecclesiolo!ical fulfill2entKin that the church is understood as the te2 le of God ?. Cor *=.9-.:A % Cor 9=.9@A and ?*@ an a ocaly tic fulfill2entKin that Christ 2inisters the 2erits of His sacrifice in the antity ical heavenly sanctuary" in the resence of God for us" a 2inistry that concludes 0ith final Lud!2ent ?Heb ;=.-%A '=%(A Rev *=+@. It is not sur risin!" therefore" to discover that HohnGs visions of the celestial realities center in the heavenly te2 le-sanctuary. 4he focus on this sanctuary as the location of all divine rede2 tive activity is an inte!ral art of the literary arran!e2ent of the A ocaly se. Each of its 2aLor visionary se1uences ?0hether seven or ei!ht" scholars differ on nu2berin!@ be!ins 0ith a heavenly te2 lesanctuary settin! that affects the inter retation of the subse1uent ro hecy. Revelation features both linear and reca itulation ro!ressions. Jhile the individual se1uencesKsuch as the churches" seals" and tru2 etsKfollo0 a reca itulation 2ove2ent ?like the four visions of $aniel@" the te2 le-sanctuary
11

saftCtuary lypolo!y
introductory scenes a ear to allude to the i2 ortant sanctuary the2es in a linear 2anner. 40o ro!ressions have been identified= ?.@ 4he2es linked to the yearly festival cycle are alluded to in their nor2al calendar se1uence= 8assover>Feast of /nleavened Bread" 8entecost" 4ru2 ets" $ay of Atone2ent" and Feast of 4abernacles. ?%@ 4he2es linked to riestly service are also alluded to in their natural succession of the daily >"am"$5 2inistration and the yearly ?$ay of Atone2ent@ 2inistration of final Lud!2ent. 4hese ortrayals of sanctuary ty olo!y illu2inate the antity ical" t0ofold hi!h riestly 2inistry of Christ in the heavenly te2 le-sanctuary. 4hus" the sanctuary ty olo!y in the book of Revelation rovides an i2 ortant key for the full inter retation of its 2essa!es for the church" and es ecially so in the end-ti2e.

C$apter Outline
I. Biblical 4y olo!y II* /nderstandin! Sanctuary 4y olo!y in Revelation III. Sanctuary 4y olo!y in the Iiterary Arran!e2ent I3. Conclusion 3. Charts .-(

"i%lical Typolo!y
Introduction In recent years a nu2ber of scholars have underscored the i2 ortance of ty olo!y for the 54 0riters. Chart . ?see . .%:@ sa2 les so2e of these 2odern assess2ents and su22ariNes by co2 arin! the t0o 2aLor vie0s of biblical ty olo!y that have vied for attention in the scholarly 0orld= the traditional and the P ostcritical.P. In 2y ublished dissertation" I sou!ht to deter2ine the true nature of biblical ty olo!y. Its basic characteristics e2er!ed fro2 an analysis of re resentative Scri tural assa!es. 4hese 0ere clearly ty olo!ical because the
. For 2ore detailed discussion of the 2aterial on this chart ?0ith biblio!ra hic references for citations@" see Richard #. $avidson" P4y olo!y in the Book of Hebre0s"P Issues in the Boo. o" Hebrews, $ARC6# Series" ed. Frank B. Holbrook" vol. ( ?Silver S rin!" #$= Biblical Research Institute" .';'@" .%+-%;.

.&&

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

Bible 0riters e2 loyed the her2eneutical ter2s tupos ?ty e@ or antitupos ?antity e@.% 4he follo0in! basic ele2ents of biblical ty olo!y have consistently e2er!ed fro2 this study=* "asic Elements Historical element* 4he historical ele2ent underscores the fact that ty olo!y is rooted in history. 4hree crucial as ects are involved. ?.@ Both the ty e and antity e are histori!al realities 0hose historicity is assu2ed and is essential to the ty olo!ical ar!u2ent. For e7a2 le" historical ersons ?Ada2" etc.@" events ?E7odus" Rood@" or institutions ?sanctuary@ are used as refi!urations. ?%@ 4heir antity es in the 54 are like0ise historical realities. 4here is a histori!al !orrespon$en!e bet0een ty e and antity e 0hich 2oves beyond !eneral arallel situations to s ecific corres ondin! details. ?*@ 4here is an es!alation or intensi"i!ation fro2 the ty e to antity e. &rop$etic ele2ent. 4he ro hetic as ect of biblical ty olo!y involves three essential oints. ?.@ 4he 64 ty e is an a$van!epresentation or refi!uration of the corres ondin! 54 antity e. ?%@ 4he ty e is $ivinely $esigne$ to refi!ure the 54 antity e. ?*@ 4here is a must-nee$s-be 1uality about the 64 ty e" !ivin! it the force of a redictive foreshado0in! of the 54 fulfill2ent. For e7a2 le" Ada2 is seen as a Pty e of the one 0ho was to !ome6 ?Ro2 +=.(@. Eschatolo!ical ?end-ti2e@ element 4his ele2ent of ty olo!y further clarifies the nature of the ro hetic corres ondence and intensification bet0een ty e and antity e. 4he 64 realities are not Lust linked to any si2ilar realities" but to an end-ti2e fulfill2ent. 4hree ossible kinds of eschatolo!ical fulfill2ent 2ay be in vie0 under this headin!= ?.@ inaugurate$, connected 0ith the first advent of ChristA ?%@ appropriate$, focusin! on the church as she lives in tension bet0een the PalreadyP and the Pnot yetPA and ?*@ !onsummate$, linked to the a ocaly tic second co2in! of
C ri0t.

C$ris to lo!ical EC $ris t-cen te redU-sole rio lo!ical EsalvationcenteredH element* 4his as ect of ty olo!y oints out its essential focus and thrust. 4he 64 ty es are not 2erely PbareP realities" but salvation realities. 4hey find their fulfill2ent in the erson and 0ork of Christ and>or in !os el
% Richard #. $avidson" typology in S!ripture, Stu$y o" Hermeneuti!al Types Stru!tures, Andre0s /niversity Se2inary $octoral $issertation Series" vol. % ?Bcrrien S rin!s" #I= Andre0s /niversity 8ress" .';.@. * For a 2ore detailed su22ary" see ibid." (.9-%(A id." G4y olo!y in the "oo# of Hebre0s"P .%'-**A and id." G4y olo!y and the Ievitical Syste2"P )inistry, February" .';(".9-.'" *&.

.&.

Sanctuary 4y ofo!y

realities brou!ht about by Christ. Christ is thus the ulti2ate orientation oint of 64 ty es and their 54 fulfill2ents. Ecclesiolo!ical Ec$urc$-relatedH element 4his characteristic of biblical ty olo!y oints to three ossible as ects of the church that 2ay be involved in the ty olo!ical fulfill2ent= the in$ivi$ual worshipers, the !orporate !ommunity, and>or the sa!raments ?ba tis2 and IordGs Su er@. 8uttin! this all to!ether" 0e 2ay define biblical ty olo!y as a 54 study of the 64 salvation historical realities" or types ? ersons" events" institutions@" that God desi!ned to corres ond to" and redictively refi!ure" their intensified antity ical fulfill2ent as ects ?inau!urated" a ro riated" consu22ated@ in 54 salvation history. In su2" the traditional vie0 of ty olo!y" not the ostcritical osition" is affir2ed by the data of Scri ture ?see chart ." . .%:@. 4hese five basic ele2ents of ty olo!y under!ird the entire ran!e of references and allusions to the sanctuary in the book of Revelation" thus indicatin! the ty olo!ical nature of this 2aterial. A closer look at the i2lications dra0n fro2 the characteristic ele2ents of biblical ty olo!y hel s to clarify the nature of sanctuary ty olo!y in the A ocaly se.

)nderstandin! Sanctuary Typolo!y in Revelation Implications 1rom t$e +istorical Element


4he histori!al element of biblical ty olo!y is crucial" because it underscores the literal" s atiote2 oral reality of the heavenly sanctuary as described in the book of Revelation. In all biblical ty olo!y" both horiNontal and vertical" the historical reality of both ty e and antity e are indis ensable to the ty olo!ical ar!u2ent. 4he case for historical continuity bet0een ty e and antity e is doubly e2 hasiNed in the ty olo!y of the sanctuary. 4he heavenly sanctuary is not only the 54 antity ical fulfill2ent of the 64 earthly sanctuary" but it is also the original, pree0istent prototype after 0hich the earthly sanctuary is 2odeled. In the very first instructions re!ardin! the buildin! of the earthly sanctuary" it is i2 licit that the reality of the earthly is derived fro2 the reality of the heavenly. E7odus %+=(& ?cf. Heb ;=+@ is the foundational assa!e affir2in! the basic continuity bet0een earthly and heavenly sanctu( 4his 0ill %ecome apparent as (e proceed to e amine the sanctuaiy 2aterial of the A ocaly se.

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Sanctuary 4y olo!y aries.+ Jhat is i2 licit in E7odus %+ is 2ade e7 licit throu!hout the rest ofthe64 8assa!es fro2 cultic" narrative" hy2nic>0isdo2" ro hetic" and a ocaly tic !enres all concur in assi!nin! s atiote2 oral reality to the heavenly sanctuary. 9 Scenes fro2 the divine asse2bly" fro2 heavenly litur!y" fro2 the heavenly court in session": conver!e in ascribin! literal reality to a lace in heaven kno0n as the heavenly sanctuary or te2 le. /nder!irdin! these sur risin!ly nu2erous references to the heavenly sanctuary is the consistent biblical 0orld vie0 that refuses to dichoto2iNe reality into litera3 earthly on the one hand and non-literal>heavenly on the other. 4hrou!hout the 54 this sa2e biblical 0orld vie0 is 2aintained. $es ite so2e clai2s to the contrary" evidence is ersuasive that the author of Hebre0s reLects the dualistic" hilonic alle!oriNation of the heavenly 0orld in favor of a real heavenly sanctuaiy and litur!y. As Jillia2 Hohnsson e7 resses it" PHis Tthe author of Hebre0sU concern throu!hout the ser2on is to !round Christian confidence in obAe!tiveEa!ts... Real deity" real hu2anity" real riesthoodKand 0e 2ay add" a real 2inistry in a real sanctuary.P; It is in this sa2e biblical traLectory that 0e 2ust lace the book of Revelation. 6ne cannot de2ytholo!iNe the reality of the heavenly sanctuary" dis2issin! it as i2a!ery 0ithin the sy2bolic 0orld of a ocaly tic literature. 4he 64 control assa!es" 0hich clearly for2 the backdro to the sanctuary descri tions of Revelation" in all their 2anifold 0itness of
3 See 2y e e!esis of E7odus %+=(& for substantiation of this oint= Typology in S!ripture, **9-;;A and P4y olo!y in the "oo# of Hebre0s"P .*(-9'. 9 Sec Davidson' Typology in S!ripture, *;%-;*A id-" P4y olo!y in the Book of Hebre0s"P .9+-99A cf. Jillia2 Shea" Sele!te$ Stu$ies on 4ropheti! Interpretation, $ARC6# Series" ed. Frank B. +ol%roo#*voL* . ?Silver S rin!" #$= Biblical Research Institute" .';%@" +-;" for further e7a2 les and 2ore detailed analysis. See also the authorGs un ublished a er" P4he Heavenly Sanctuaiy in the Old 4esta2ent"P Andre0s /niversity 4heolo!ical Se2inary" .':9A and 5iels-Erik An- dreascn' 5T$e +eavenly Sanctuary in the 6ld 4esta2ent"P The San!tuary an$ the tonement, ed* Arnold 3. Jallenka2 f and J. Richard Iesher ?Silver S rin!" #$= Biblical Research Institute" .';.@" 9:-;9. : 6n the divine council or asse2bly" see" E. C. Fin!sbury" P4he 8ro het and the $ivine Council"P #BJ ?.'9(@A %:'-;9A R. m. Jhybray" The Heavenly (oun!ellorin Isa.UlFB-F: ?Ca2brid!e" .':.@A and Andreasen" ::-:;. 6n the corres ondence bet0een earthly and heavenly te2 le litur!y" see cs . H. C. #atthe0s" P$ie 8sal2en und der 4e2 cldienst"P V - %% ?.'&%@= 9+-;&A Richard 8reuss" P$ie Gerichts redi!t der vore7ilischen 8ro heten und der 3ersuch einer Stei!erun! der kultischen Ieistun!"P V - PC ?.'+;@= .;.-;(A and Hans Strauss" P<ur Ausle!un! von 8s. %'"P<( -G< ?.':&@= '.-.&%. 6n the heavenly court in session" see Arthur Ferch" P4he Hud!2ent Scene in $aniel :"P The San!tuary an$ the tonement, .+:-:9A Jillia2 Shea" PS atial $i2ensions in the 3ision of $aniel ;"P Symposium on &aniel, E0egeti!al an$ 'eneral Stu$ies, Book %" $ARC6# Series" ed. Frank B. Holbrook" vol. : ?Silver S rin!" #$A Biblical Research Institute" .';9@" (':-+%9. = 8illiam 0* Hohnsson" In bsolute (on"i$en!e, The Boo. o" Hebrews Spea.s to Dur &ay ?5ashville" 45" .':'@. '." italics his.

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different 0riters usin! different !enres ?includin! a ocaly tic@" unitedly u hold the obLective reality of the heavenly sanctuary. 4he historical ele2ent and the vertical di2ension of ty olo!y do not allo0 for a different conclusion re!ardin! Revelation. Je 2ust hasten to add" ho0ever" that the heavenly sanctuary is not e7actly like the earthly sanctuary. 4he 64 already oints to a vertical in tensification bet0een earthly and heavenly as 0ell as a horiNontal intensification bet0een the 64 shado0 and the 54 substance. As Ellen G. Jhite uts it=
4he 2atchless s lendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to hu2an vision the !lories of that heavenly te2 le 0here Christ our forerunner 2inisters for us before the throne of God. 4he abidin! lace of the Fin! of kin!s" 0here thousand thousands 2inister unto Hi2" and ten thousand ti2es ten thousand stand before Hi2 ?$aniel :=.&@A that te2 le" filled 0ith the !lory of the eternal throne" 0here sera hi2" its shinin! !uardians" veil their faces in adoration" could find" in the 2ost 2a!nificent structure ever reared by hu2an hands" but a faint reflection of its vastness and !lory.' But the difference bet0een the earthly and heavenly sanctuary is not that the heavenly is less literal" less real" as our 0estern overdose of Greek dualis2 2i!ht lead us unsus ectin!ly to su ose. 8erha s C. S. Ie0is oints the 0ay to0ard an antidote for this e1uation of heavenly 0ith non-literal. In his book" The 'reat &ivor!e, he effectively delivers the 2essa!e that heavenly realities are not less, but more real..&

Accordin! to the testi2ony of Hohn the Revelator" the heavenly sanctuary is not a 2eta hor for heaven" but a lace in heaven ?..=.'A .(=.:A .+=+@. Ellen G. Jhite" here a!ain" see2s to be on the 2ark and in har2ony 0ith the cu2ulative testi2ony of Scri ture 0hen she takes very literally HohnBs vie0 of the heavenly sanctuary=
As in vision the a ostle Hohn 0as !ranted a vie0 of the te2 le of God in heaven" he beheld there Pseven la2 s of fire burnin! before the throne.P Revelation (=+. He sa0 an an!el Phavin! a !olden censerA and there 0as !iven unto hi2 2uch incense" that be should offer it 0ith the rayers of all saints u on the !olden altar 0hich 0as before the throne.P Revelation ;=*. Here the ro het 0as er2itted to behold the first a art2ent of the
' Ellen &. Jhite" The Great Controversy ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'+&@" (.(. .& C S* Le(is' The Great &ivor!e ENe( Mork" .'(9@. .&(

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

sanctuary in heavenA and he sa0 there the Pseven la2 s of fireP and Pthe !olden altar.P re resented by the !olden candlestick and the altar of incense in the sanctuary on earth. A!ain" Pthe te2 le of God 0as o enedP ?Revelation ..=.'@" and he looked 0ithin the inner veil" u on the holy of holies. +ere he beheld Pthe ark of +is testa2ent"P re resented by the sacred chest constructed by #oses to contain the la0 of God.

In a s0ift s0ee throu!h the biblical 0itness she su22ariNes the consistent biblical icture= P#oses 2ade the earthly sanctuary after a attern 0hich 0as sho0n hi2. 8aul teaches that that attern 0as the true sanctuary 0hich is in heaven. And Hohn testifies that he sa0 it in heaven.P.%

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Recent research by syste2atic theolo!ian Fe2ando Canale has sho0n ho0 the 2aLor theolo!ical syste2s of traditional Christian thou!ht ?8rotestant" Catholic" and ost2odern ecu2enical@ have been built u on the 8latonic aradi!2 of the Pti2elessnessP of God. Ho0ever" the sanctuary doctrine of Scri ture reveals this funda2ental aradi!2 to be a distortion of biblical reality. Accordin! to Scri ture God is not essentially inco2 atible 0ith s ace and ti2eA He is the very God 0ho has d0elt Pfro2 the be!innin!P ?Her .:=.%@ in a heavenly alace or te2 leA 0ho truly d0elt in the sanctuary in the 0ilderness and in the Herusale2 4e2 leA 0ho" in the on!oin! 0ork of rede2 tion" is no0 en!a!ed in a real" historical-te2 oral activity in a real s atiote2 oral heavenly sanctuary. T$us' t$e sanctuary inte!rates and constitutes the 0hole flo0 of t$e $istory o, redemption* It is t$e only ,oundation ,or t$eodicy.t$e vindication o, 0od* And (it$ rede2 tion complete t$e sanctuary 0ill reac$ its !oal ($en 0od literally. in s ace and ti2e.5ta%ernacles5 (it$ us forever ERev %.=*@. T$e implications of CanaleGs consistent a lication o, the biblical paradi!m as revealed in t$e spatiotemporal reality o, t$e sanctuary are indeed pro,ound* Another art of the roble2 in dealin! 0ith the nature of the heavenly sanctuary ste2s fro2 an additional inroad of Greek dualis2 into our thinkin!. Greek dualis2 2akes a dichoto2y bet0een literal and symboli!. Accordin! to the biblical vie0" ho0ever" 2any concrete realities are at the
.. 8$ite' The 'reat (ontroversy, .'+&"(.(-.+. .% Ibid." (.+. .* For his funda2ental criti1ue of 2aLor theolo!ical syste2s vie0ed in li!ht of biblical data" see Fer-nando Canale' (riti!ism o" Theologi!al Reason, Time an$ Timelessness as 4rimor$ial 4resuppositions, Andre0s /niversity Se2inary $octoral $issertation Series" vol. .& ?Berrien S rin!s" Ml; Andre0s /niversity 8ress" .';*@. CanaleGs e7 lication of the basic biblical aradi!2 centered in the s aliote2 oral reality of the sanctuary is the subLect of his forthco2in! book.

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Sanctuary 4y olo!y same time %ot$ literal and sym%olic* 8e may illustrate t$is point 0ith t$e ty olo!y o, 1lood and %aptism in 6 &eter 2 and t$e E odusXsacramental ty olo!y o, 6 Corint$ians 6M* "ot$ type and antitype o, t$ese e amples are $istorical realities* "ut let us note the ,act t$at %aptism and the IordGs su er ?the antitypesH are very real' literal entities* Ket at t$e sa2e ti2e they sym%oliFe or point to i2 ortant spiritual trut$s beyond the2selves. In t$e sa2e (ay Scripture up$olds the literal reality o, t$e $eavenly sanctuary and its litur!y' and at t$e same time t$ese very realities oint %eyond t$emselves to ultimate spiritual trut$s E,or e ample' the lamps representin! t$e +oly Spirit' Rev (=+@. T(o dan!ers must %e avoided* 8e can concentrate solely on the Pheavenly !eo!ra hyP and lose t$e spiritual messa!es t$at are co22unicated. "ut (e can also spiritualiFe a(ay t$e spatiotemporal reality and thereby lose %ot$ t$e literal substance and spiritual truth. Implications 1rom t$e &rop$etic Element Theprophetic e%e#ent of ,i,%ica% typology is i2 ortant as it underscores t$e ros ective> redictive nature of sanctuary typolo!y* Bo$n did not Preinter retP the OT sanctuary into a ty e o, t$e $eavenly sanctuary. Rather" t$e OT ,ores$ado(ed t$e redemptive aspects o, t$e latter. Inas2uch as biblical ty es are $ivinely $esigne$ to serve as prospe!tiveEpre$i!tive pre"igurations, so2e indication of the e7istence and redictive 1uality of the various 64 ty es should occur be"ore their antity ical fulfill2ent. 4his as ect of ty olo!y has not been 0idely reco!niNed" but such is the consistent attern that e2er!es throu!hout Scri ture= the 64 ty es referred to by the 54 0riters have already been identified as ty olo!ical be"ore the antity ical fulfill2ent. Chart % ? . .%;@ illustrates this attern. 4he 2iddle colu2n oints out the 64 verbal indicators of ty olo!y. Jith res ect to sanctuary ty olo!y" lease note ite2 % ?bolded bo7 in the chart@. 4he earthly sanctuary realities already are indicated as ty olo!ical in the 64 in nu2erous assa!es and are in relationshi to the heavenly realities. Hohn the Revelator is" therefore" si2 ly announcin! the fulfill2ent of the 64 sanctuary ty es and shado0s that ointed to the substance of the heavenly sanctuary and ChristGs atonin! death and riesthood. Implications 1rom t$e Esc$atolo!ical Element 4he es!hatologi!al >en$-time5 element of biblical ty olo!y is a key to understandin! ho0 sanctuary ty olo!y is fulfilled throu!hout the book of .&9

Sanctuary 4y olo!y Revelation* Chart * Ep* .%'@ summariFes t$e esc$atolo!ical substructure of 54 ty olo!y..( In brief" 0e 2ay say that the 64 kin!do2 ro hecies and ty es have one eschatolo!ical fulfill2ent 0ith three as ects= ?.@ the basic fulfill2ent of the 64 eschatolo!ical ho es centerin! in the earthly life and 0ork of Besus Christ at His "irst a$ventS ?%@ the derived s iritual fulfill2ent by the !hur!h, the body of Christ in the ti2e of tension bet0een the PalreadyP and Pnot yetPA and ?*@ the apo!alypti! !onsummation and final usherin! in of the a!e to co2e at the second advent of Christ and beyond. T$ese three fulfill2ent as ects 2ay be ter2ed res ectively inaugurate$, appropriate$, and !onsummate$ eschatolo!y. 6r" for convenience" they 2ay be desi!nated (hristologi!al, e!!lesiologi!al, and apo!alypti!.H# It should be e2 hasiNed ?as illustrated in chart *" . .%'@ that the eschatolo!ical substructure described above is overarched by a vertical-heavenly di2ension. 4hrou!hout 64 history" throu!hout the Ptabernaclin!P of Christ on earth" and throu!hout the e7istence of the Christian church as the body of Christ" 0e 2ust reco!niNe the cos2ic reality of GodGs rule. T$ere is a vertical !ontinuity throu!hout salvation historyA the connection bet0een heaven and earth is close and decided. At the sa2e ti2e" until the final cli2a7" there is a vertical tension. #an e7 eriences the heavenly thin!s by faith" s irituallyA but he is still on earth. 5ot until the a ocaly tic consu22ationK0hen the saints !o to heaven at the Second Advent" and after the 2illenniu2 0hen GodGs throne is trans orted to this earth" and Pthe tabernacle of God is 0ith 2enPK0ill the tension bet0een the earthly and the heavenly find co2 lete resolution. An i2 ortant i2 lication for sanctuary ty olo!y lo!ically follo0s fro2 the eschatolo!ical ers ective 0e have su22ariNed. Je 0ould e7 ect the antity ical fulfill2ent of 64 sanctuary ty olo!y to corres ond to one or 2ore of the three 54 eschatolo!ical 2anifestations of the kin!do2 of GodKinau!urated" a ro riated" or consu22ated. Inas2uch as these Pkin!do2 2anifestationsP are Lust different as ects oftheone eschatolo!i.( 1or 2ore detailed discussion" see $avidson" Typology in S!ripture, *'&-'(A Geor!e Elden Iadd" The Presence o" the Ruture, The Es!hatology o" Bibli!al Realism ?Grand Ra ids" .':(@A and +ans D* LaRondelle' The Israel o" God in 4rophe!y, 4rin!iples o" 4ropheti! Interpretation, Andre(s /niversity #ono!ra hs" Studies in Reli!ion" vol. .* ?Berrien S rin!s" MI; Andre0s )niversity &ress' .';*@. .+ As noted in lypohgy in S!ripture, *'(" PJe use these three ter2s advisedly" because all three ter2s could be construed to a ly to all three as ects. But 0ith a vie0 to their obvious oint of e2 hasis" 0e believe these GshorthandG distinctions of the as ects in the salvation-historical eschatolo!ical fulfill2ent 0ill be hel ful in further discussion.P

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Sanctuary Typolo!y cal kin!do2" it 0ould not be sur risin! if the antity ical fulfill2ent of 64 sanctuary ty olo!y should re!ularly enco2 ass all three as ects. 4he e7a2 le at the botto2 of chart * ? . .%'@ sho0s this to be the case. Christ is vie0ed as the antity ical te2 le ?Hohn .=.(A %=%.A #att .%=9@. 4he church is desi!nated as the te2 le of the Holy S irit ?. Cor*=.9".:A%Cor 9=.9@. 4he heavenly te2 le overarches the entire end-ti2e fulfill2ent and co2es into articular ro2inence at the ti2e of a ocaly tic consu22ation ?Rev *=.%A :=.+A ..=.'A %.=*" %%" etc.A 2ore on these Revelation assa!es shortly@. Implications 1rom t$e C$ristXSalvationXC$urc$ Elements 6nce 0e have reco!niNed the e0isten!e of the eschatolo!ical substructure of 54 antity ical fulfill2ents" it is i2 ortant to realiNe the three $i""erent mo$es of fulfill2ent in this substructure. 4hese different mo$es of fulfill2ent arise fro2 the characteristics of ty olo!y involvin! Christ" salvation" and the church ?su22ariNed above" . .&.-.&%@ 4he kin!do2 of God is Christ-centered. Christ is not the center abstractly" but in savin! relation to His eo le. 4he kin!do2 of God shares the sa2e 2odality as ChristGs connection 0ith His eo le. 4hus" the fulfill2ent of the ty es shares the sa2e character as the nature of ChristGs resence. For e7a2 le" at the first advent the kin!do2 ?or rule@ of God is literally e2bodied in Hesus ?#att .%=%;@. 4he ty es are fulfilled literally and locally in Hi2. After ChristGs ascension" His kin!do2 or PruleP is fro2 heaven" and +is subLects throu!hout the 0orld relate to Hi2 only s iritually" by faith. 4hrou!h His S irit they receive only the firstfruits" the artial fulfill2ent of the ulti2ate !ifts He has ro2ised ?Ro2 ;=%*@. 4hus" the nature of the fulfill2ent in the church on earth is s iritual" universal" and artial. At the sa2e ti2e the sanctuary ty es have a literal fulfill2ent in the heavenly sanctuary" since Christ is literally resent there. At the final consu22ation Christ is literally reunited 0ith His eo le" and the ty es have a !lorious" final" universal" literal fulfill2ent..9
.9 1ora succinct resentation of this eschatoEo!ical substructure ,rom a Christocentric ers ective" see Ellen 0* 8$ite' 4rophets an$ Nings ?#ountain 3ie0. CA" .'(*@" .+-%%A cf. cha . +'" P4he House of Israel'5 for arallel 2aterial. See also IaRondelle" Israel in Bible 4rophe!y, assi2A and Iouis 8ere' The (ertainly o" the Thir$ ngel+s )essage, re rint ?Berrien S rin!s" #I= First I2 ressions" .':'@" esp* *&;-.(" thou!h the entire book sheds li!ht on this oint. It should also %e noted that the a lication o, OT ty es to s iritual Israel could have been entirely different had national Israel re2ained faithful to 0od and acce ted Hesus as the #essiah. Israel 0ould have been the !reatest nation on earth ?$eut %;=."62J Ellen G. Jhite" (hrist+s DbAe!t Jessons

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Sanctuary Typolo!y An Important Dey ,or Interpretation 4hese her2eneutical insi!hts into the different 2odes of fulfill2ent in sanctuary ty olo!y hel us to reconcile ro erly our revious conclusion re!ardin! a real" literal heavenly sanctuary 0ith several a arently s iritual>fi!urative sanctuary allusions. 5ote the follo0in!= the seven la2 stands re resentin! the seven churches ?Rev .=.%" %&@" the souls under the altar of burnt offerin! cryin! for ven!eance ?Rev 9='-..@" and t$e Pcourt outside the te2 leP !iven over to the nations ?Rev ..=%@. $o these references 2iti!ate a!ainst a literal understandin! of the heavenly sanctuary scenes in the re2ainder of the bookS 4o the contraryV A !ras of the eschatolo!ical substructure of 54 ty olo!y rovides a key to unlock the consistent and coherent usa!e of sanctuary ty olo!y found in the A ocaly se. 8e noted ?see chart *" 2iddle colu2n" . .%'@ that in the ti2e of the church the earthly antity es in the s iritual kin!do2 of !race find a spiritual ?nonliteral@" artial ?nonfinal@" and universal ?non!eo!ra hical>ethnic@ fulfill2ent" since they are s iritually ?but not literally@ related to Christ in t$e heavenlies. 4hus" (e should e7 ect that 0hen sanctuary>te2 le i2a!ery in Revelation is a lied to an earthly settin! in the ti2e of the church" there 0ill be a spiritual and not literal inter retation" since the te2 le is a s iritual one here on earth. In har2ony 0ith this her2eneutical rinci le" the antity ical la2 stands on earth in Revelation . are not literal but s iritual. 4he church livin! bet0een Pthe already and the not yetP is ortrayed else0here in Scri ture as the antity ical ecclesiolo!ical te2 le. Revelation is consistent (it$ this in utiliNin! the sanctuary ter2inolo!y of the la2 stands to a ly
TJashin!ton" DC' .'(.U" %;;@" in ros erity ?$eut %;=*"..-.*@" intellect ?(=9-:@" health ?:=.*" 63H' and s irituality ?%;='@. 4his 0ould have been a 0itness to other nations ?$eut %;=.&A Jhite" Christ!s ),8ect Lessons, %*%A Isa (*=.&@A Herusale2 0ould have been the 2issionary center for t$e s iritually dyna2ic Be(is$ nation. 6ther nations 0ould Loin Israel ?<ech ;=%.-%*@ until the #in!dom of Israel e2braced the 0orld ?Isa %:=9A +(=*A Jhite" (hrist+s DbAe!t Jessons, %'&@. 4he temple of Herusale2 0ould $ave stood forever EBer :=:A Jhite" The 'reat (ontroversy, .'@. Follo0in! a final rebellion o, insur!ents ?<ech .%=%-'@ and their destruction ?.(=.%".*@" the Iord 0ould %e kin! over all t$e eart$' and all 0ould be follo0ers o, the Iord ?<ech 6:;2';"7'.*".9A Ber 26;2:' etc*H* Christ 0ould still $ave died as the re resentative 2an and re resentative Israelite' %ut t$e fulfill2ent of t$e ty es to 0od9s eo le 0ould have %een 0ithin national Israel in a literal' !eo!ra hical (ay* "ut since national Israel reLected the #essiah and divorced t$emselves fro2 the t$eocracy' all the covenant promises 0ill be fulfilled to Ps iritual Israel5 ?Jhite" Prophets an$ Nings NMountain Vie(' CA' .'(*U" :.(@. 1or a detailed su22ary of 0od9s ori!inal lan for Israel' see P4he Role of Israel in Old 4esta2ent 8ro hecy"P The S& Bible (ommentary, ed* 1* D* I,ichol ?Jashin!ton" DC' .':9@" (=%+-*;.

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Sanctuary Typolo!y to the s iritual body of the earthly church. Hesus ?throu!h His S irit@ is s iritually resent 0ith His church on earth. But in Revelation (=." the scene shifts to heaven, and Hohn is invited" PCo2e u hither" and I 0ill sho0 you 0hat 2ust take lace after this.P 4hen follo0s the scene in the heavenly sanctuary 0here Christ rei!ns as riest-kin!. As 0e have seen" durin! the ti2e of the church" the earthly s iritual kin!do2 is overarched by the literal rule of Christ in the heaven-lies. Consistent 0ith this 54 ers ective" the sanctuary ty olo!y of Revelation" 0hen focused u on the heavenly san!tuary, artakes of the sa2e 2odality as the resence of Christ" that is" a literal antity ical fulfill2ent. 8e 0ill look at these heavenly sanctuary scenes shortly. But here 0e note that a2idst the heavenly sanctuary scenes of Revelation" there are brief shifts to earthly sanctuary allusions. For e7a2 le" in Revelation 9='-.. 0e find 2ention of the altar ?of burnt offerin!@..: Since this altar 0as in the outer court of the earthly sanctuary" and since accordin! to Revelation ..=.-% the outer court sy2boliNes earthly and not heavenly thin!s" 0e 2ust inter ret this as a shift to the earthly real2. .; In har2ony 0ith the ecclesiolo!ical as ect of the ty olo!ical fulfill2ent" 0e should inter ret these earthly references in a s iritual" nonliteral 0ay. 4he scene of Psouls under the altarP cryin! out for ven!eance alludes to the blood ?that is" Pthe life"P Iev .:=..@ of the sanctuary sacrifices oured out at the base of the altar ?Iev (=:@. 4he sy2bolis2 echoes a reference to the blood of Abel cryin! to God fro2 the !round ?Gen (=.&A cf. Heb .%=%(@. Hohn 2akes this connection bet0een the 2artyrdo2 of saints and the ourin! out of the sacrifice 2ore e7 licit in Revelation .9=9" in 0hich the 0icked are said to have P oured outP >e.!heo5 the blood of saints and ro hets. So" not a literal altar" not literal PsoulsP under the altar" are in vie0" but rather an ecclesiolo!ical fulfill2ent in the 2artyred saints and ro hets 0hose blood s iritually cries out for vindication by God. Iike0ise" not a literal PcourtP is in vie0 in the earthly settin! ofRevela.: For evidence that this is the altar of burnt offerin!" and not the !olden altar" see Hon 8aulien" &e!o$ing Revelation+s Trumpets, Jiterary llusions an$ Interpretations o" Revelation G,P-F<, Andre(s /niversity Se2inary $octoral $issertation Series" vol. .. ?Berrien S rin!s" #IA Andre0s /niversity &ress' .';;@" *.+-.;. .; C,* +e% .*=.& ?and i2 lied in +e% ;=.-+@ for lace2ent of the altar on earth" Christolo!ically fulfilled in the cross. 4he ecclesiolo!ical fulfill2ent in connection 0ith Christian 2artyrs follo0in! in HesusG ste s 0ould be a natural e7tension of the ty olo!y. See also 8aulien" *.9" for substantiation of the additional oint that PHe0ish a ocaly tic allo0s foronly one altar in heaven ?e7cludin! the altar of burnt offerin! 0hich had stood in the outer court of the Israelite sanctuary@.P

..&

Sanctuary 4y olo!y tion ..=%" but a Ptra2 lin!P or ersecution of the earthly>s iritual Pholy city"P the saints" by the PGentiles"P the s iritual ene2ies of God" for (% ro hetic 2onths. As 0e arrive at the closin! scenes of Revelation" the a ocaly tic fulfill2ent of sanctuary ty olo!y resolves the tension bet0een earthly and heavenly. In the ti2e of the church s iritual Israel is spiritually !athered to heavenly Herusale2 on #t. <ion ?Heb .%=%%-%(@. But 0hen Pthe tabernacle of God is 0ith 2enP ?Rev %. -B, FH3@" the Israel of all a!es 0ill have been literally !athered to their 5e0 Herusale2. After a literal thousand years" .' the heavenly Herusale2 0ill have descended literally to this earth. Follo0in! the final Lud!2ent and cleansin! of the earth by fire" the court ?a re-created earth after the fashion of Eden@ 0ill be united 0ith its center" the literal tabernacle of God" at a literal 5e0 Herusale2. Jith these !eneral her2eneutical considerations of the nature of sanctuary ty olo!y in 2ind" let us no0 turn 2ore directly to the role of sanctuary ty olo!y in the structured flo0 of the book of Revelation.

Sanctuary Typolo!y in t$e Literary Arran!ement


4he literary analysis of Revelation by Fenneth Strand has de2onstrated the bookGs basic chiastic literary arran!e2ent. %& C. #ervyn #a70ell follo0s in !eneral the sa2e chiastic outline" 0ith additional insi!hts on certain details. %. 4hese analyses reveal the aired halves of the book= historical ?Rev .-.(@ and eschatolo!ical ?Rev .+-%%@" as 0ell as the chiastic 2atchin! of their corres ondin! subsections. Introductory Sanctuary Scenes Jithin this overall arran!e2ent of Revelation 2ost of the sanctuary i2a!ery occurs in the scenes that introduce the various vision se1uences.
67 T$e threefold substructure of NT eschatolo!y also clarifies 0hether to inter ret the ti2e eriods o, Revelation sy2bolically or literally. 8rior to t$e Second Advent" 0hile Christ is only s iritually related to +is eo le" the ti2e references are s iritual ?i.e." ro hetic time' usin! the year-day rinci le@. But after the saints are literally !athered to Christ at the 4arousia, then ti2e references artake of that same 2odality. 4hus the 2illenniu2 is a literal thousand years" and t$e sy2bolic year-day rinci le no lon!er a lies. AM See Dennet$ Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, Hermeneuti!al 'ui$elines with Brie" Intro$u!tion to Jiterary nalysis, %nd ed. ?5a les" 1L' .':'@" (*-+%. Also cha s. % and * of this volu2e. A6 Sec C* #ervyn #a70ell" 'o$ (ares < ?Boise" ID' .';+@= +(-9%. Ill

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

Recent studies have indicated the crucial si!nificance of these sanctuary scenes. #a70ell ri!htly ar!ues that Pthe heavenly sanctuary is a central ivot of the 2essa!e of Revelation"P and the Psanctuary scenes are land2arks" !uidin! us to the 2eanin! of Revelation.B Strand has sho0n ho0 the A ocaly se is divided into a series of visionary se1uences and ho0 each of the visions o ens 0ith an introductory sanctuary scene. %* 4hus the entire book is structured by sanctuary ty olo!y. Allusions to ,irst apartment ministration* 8erha s the 2ost si!nificant insi!ht in these recent studies is the de2onstration of ho0 the introductory sanctuary scenes hi!hli!ht the ro!ression of rede2 tion history 0ithin the book of Revelation. 4he first three sanctuary scenes ?Rev .=.%%&A (-+A ;=%-+@ center in" or relate to" the holy lace of the sanctuary. 4hus" they serve to situate the te2 oral settin! of the scenes 0ithin the ti2e of ChristGs daily >"ami$5 holy lace 2inistry. 4he first scene ?.=.%-%&@ is on earth and not in the heavenly sanctuary. 5o0here else in the book is such a concentrated e2 hasis u on ChristGs earthly death and resurrection to be found. At the sa2e ti2e" the e7 licit 2ention of seven la2 stands recalls the seven-branched la2 stand burnin! continually >"arm$5 in the holy lace of the sanctuary. 4he second scene ?(=.-+=.(@ e7 licitly 2oves to the heavenly sanctuary ?cf. (=.@. Hon 8aulien has sho0n ho0 the thorou!h 2i7 of i2a!ery fro2 the entire sanctuary" but 0ithout the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent" oints to a settin! of inau!uration.%( Christ" not resent in Revelation (" is in Revelation + installed in His on!oin! >>ami$5 0ork in the holy lace %+ of the heavenly sanctuary as a result of His victory on the cross. 4he third sanctuary scene ?;=%-+@ reveals that the basic focus of ChristGs on!oin! >"ami$5 2inistry is inter!ession. 4he reference to the offerin! of
%% Ibid." .9(. %* Dennet$ Strand' P4he Ei!ht "asic 3isions in t$e "oo# o, Revelation'5 ;SS %+ ?.';:@= .&:-.%.A id*' 5T$e G3ictorious-IntroductionG Scenes in the 3isions in the "oo# o, Revelation'5 '(SS %+ ?.';:@= %9:-%;; Esee re rint in cha . % in this volu2e@. #a70ell" .9(" arrives at si2ilar conclu* sions 0ith re!ard to the ,irst Five sanctuary scenes. Hon &aulien' PSeals and Trumpets; So2e Current Discussions'5 cha . .& in this volume' reduces Strand9s ei!$t scenes to seven" eliminatin! StrandGs si7th scene ?.9=.;-.;=%(@ ($ic$ has a voice ,rom t$e temple but not an actual sanctuary (ene* T$e seven-scene sc$ema is ,ollo(ed $ere' %( 8aulien" PSeals and Trumpets; So2e Current $iscussionsPA id.. T$e Seven Seals'5 cha . .. in t$is volumeJ and C* Mcrvyn #a70ell" PIn Confir2ation of &rop$etic Inter retation"P J'TS %>. ?.''.@= .(:..(;. %+ Althou!h t$ere is a thorou!h mi o, sanctuary i2a!ery in Revelation (-+ inas2uch as t$e entire sanctuary is involved in the inau!uration" yet the ri2ary 1ocus o, the enthrone2ent>inau!uration scene in Rev :-3 a ears to %e t$e holy lace. See Strand" P3ictorious-Introduction Scenes"P %:. ?see re rint in cha . * o, this volu2e@A and 8$ite' The Great Controversy, (.(-.+.

..%

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

incense at the !olden altar clearly indicates a daily >tami$5, holy lace intercessory 2inistry. Second Temple daily service. 4he daily >iami$5 settin! of Revelation .-; is further substantiated as these cha ters are co2 ared 0ith the order of daily services in the second 4e2 le of the century in 0hich Hohn 0rote. Recent studies have set forth the strikin! arallels bet0een the order of sanctuary allusions in Revelation .-; and the descri tion of the daily >CmuW5 services described in the #ishnah. %: Je su22ariNe as follo0s= .. 4ri22in! the la2 stand >m. Tami$ *.'A cf. Rev .=.%-%&@ %. Great door o en ?2. Tami$ *.:A cf. Rev (=.@ 2* Lam% slain Em* Ta#id *.:A (=.-*" cf. Rev 3;6H (. Blood oured out at base of bronNe altar ?2. Tami$ (..A cf. Rev 9='@ +. Incense offered at !olden altar >m. Tami$ I.:+, cf. Rev ;=*"(@ 9. Break in the sin!in! >m. Tami$ :.*A Rev ;=.@ :. 4ru2 ets blo0n to si!nal co2 letion of sacrifice >m. Tami$ :.*A cf. ;=%-9@ 8aulien concludes" P5ot only does this ortion of the A ocaly se contain all the 2aLor details of the Xami$ litur!y" it alludes to the2 in essentially the sa2e order. 4hus the 2aterial 2akin! u the se tets of the churches" seals" and tru2 ets is subtly associated 0ith the activities in the te2 le related to the continual or >ami$ service.P%; Allusions to Second Apartment ministration* In contrast to the focus u on the daily service in the Hrst art of the book. Revelation .. shifts the e2 hasis to the annual litur!y of the $ay of Atone2ent. 4his Mo2 Fi ur 2otif is sustained throu!hout the latter ortion of the book as far as cha ter %&.%'

A6 Bon &aulien' PInterte7tuality" the +e%re( Cultus" and the &lot of the A ocaly se"P a er resented at t$e annual meetin! o, t$e Society of Biblical Iiterature" Literary Criticis2 and the A ocaly se Consultation" 5ove2ber .;".''&" . '. 5ote *% provides evidence that this scene at the altar of incense is a art of the daily ?n0tf?f@ holy lace ministry and not the yearly Day of Atone2ent 9T:una6 2inistry. In t$e scene of Rev ;=%-9" ?.@ t$e incense altar is central as in the "ami$, not %ypassed as in the Yoma >)ishnah Tami$ 9.%" *A cf. m. Ywna +..@A ?%@ the officiatin! riest receives the incense" as in "ami$, and does not !at$er $is o0n" as in Yoma >m. Tumi$ 9.%" *A cf. ;o#a +..@A and ?*@ t$e incense is o,,ered at t$e !olden altar" as in the "ami$, not at the Ark" as in D(ia >m. Tami$ 9.*" cf. Yoma +.+@. %: For the basic descri tion of the daily order of services in the second 4e2 le ti2es" see the tractate Tami$ in the He0ish #ishnah. 8aulien" PSeals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions"P cha . .& in this volu2eA and id." PInterte7tuality"P .%-.*" su22ariNes the arallels. $. 4. 5iles" s Seeing the Invisible ?5e0 Mork" .'9.@. ..%.(" observes the connection bet0een Rev .-; and the #ishnah tractate Tami$, but as 8aulien correctly notes" 5ilcs unsuccessfully atte2 ts to continue theCXn/ arallels throu!hout the rest of Revelation. Acareful look at the evidence reveals that the iamS$ litur!y rovides structural arallels only as far as Rev ;. A= &aulien' PInterte7tuality"P .*. A7 T$is 0ill be discussed in 2ore detail in the section o, t$is c$apter dealin! 0ith the PMearly Cycle

..*

Sanctuary 4y olo!y Strand has sho0n ho0 the 2easurin! of the te2 le" altar" and 0orshi ers ?Rev ..=.@ has its 2ost co2 lete the2atic and se1uential arallel in the descri tion of the $ay of Atone2ent rituals ?Iev .9@.*& 4his co2es i22ediately after the co2 letion of $anielGs ro hetic ti2e in Revelation .&=+-9 ?cf. $an .%=:@.*. 4he fourth sanctuary scene ?Rev ..=.'@ e7 licitly ortrays the o enin! of the Pinner te2 leP >naos5 or #ost Holy 8lace and focuses u on the ark of the covenant. 4he i22ediate Hud!2ent conte7t of this scene ?cf. ..=.;@ su orts the $ay of Atone2ent settin!" and also the lar!er conte7t oints in this direction. Recent studies have de2onstrated ho0 the book of Revelation often follo0s the basic structure and detailed descri tions of ENekiel" *% and the ENekiel attern is decisive in Revelation .&-... ENekiel is !iven a scroll to eat ?ENek %='-*=*@ and then is i22ediately called to !ive a 2essa!e of an investi!ative Lud!2ent fro2 the #ost Holy 8lace of the sanctuary ?*=(-;=.;@. ** In a si2ilar 2anner Hohn is told to eat a scroll ?Rev .&=;-..@ and then is i22ediately !iven a 2essa!e to 2easure the te2 le" altar" and 0orshi ers ?Rev ..=.-%@" 0ith a focus u on the #ost Holy 8lace of the heavenly sanctuary ?..=.'@. 4he fifth sanctuary scene ?.+=+-;@ 2arks the closin! u or Pde-inau!urationP of the sanctuary. It is filled 0ith s2oke fro2 the !lory of God" and no one can enter= robation is closed. 4he seven last la!ues follo0" GodGs 0rath un2in!led 0ith 2ercy ?.9=.-%.@. 4he si7th sanctuary scene ?.'=.-.&@ describes sanctuary 0orshi K raise to God for His Lust Lud!2entsKbut there is no e7 licit 2ention of the sanctuary. 4he sanctuaryGs savin! function has !iven 0ay to do7olo!y. 4he final sanctuary scene ?%.=.-%%=+@ returns to earth. 5o0 the teno, FestivalsP in Revelation' 667-6A6* *& See Fenneth Strand' PAn Overloo#ed Old 4esta2ent Back!round to Revelation ..=..P ;SS %% ?.';(@A *.:-*%+" Note in particular $o( the 5measurin!5 o, Rev 66;6 and t$e Patone2ent>cleansin!P o, Lev .9 encompasses the sa2e as ects o, the sanctuary in t$e sa2e order ?te2 le" altar" and 0orshi ers@. *. See 8* +* S$ea' 5T$e #i!hty An!el and +is Messa!es'5 cha . 62 in this volume* *% Sec cs ." Albert Van$oye' 5L9)tilisation du Livre d9EFec$iel dans .GA ocafy se"P Bib (* ?.'9%@= (*9-(:9A Be,,rey o* 3o!clsan!" 5T$e Interpretation of ENekiel in the "oo# o, RevelationP E&$*D* diss." +arvard /niversity" .';+@A and Hohann Lust' T$e Order of 1inal Events in Revelation and in EFe#iel'5 in L + po!alypse 8ohanni/ue et I+apo!atypti*ue $ans +e Nouveau Testament, ed* Ban Lam%rec$t ELcuven; Leuvcn )niversity &ress' .';&@" 6<7-=2* ** Sec 8illiam S$ea' 5T$e Investi!ative Bud!ment o, Buda$' ENekiel .-.&"P The San!tuary an$ the 'tone#ent, %;*-%'.A Richard M* Davidson' -Jhat the +eavenly Sanctuary #eans to #e= Mo2 Dippur Calls )s to Repentance and Hoy"P $venust &eview, February .'".';:".%-.(A id." 5In Confir2ation of the Sanctuaiy Messa!e'5 J'TS < ?.''.@= ':-.&&.

..(

Sanctuary 4y olo!y sion bet0een heavenly and earthly is colla sed= Pthe tabernacle Zs.sne[ of God is 0ith 2enP ?Rev %.=*" FH3@. 4hus" the introductory sanctuary scenes structure the book of Revelation and rovide the keys for deter2inin! the ro!ression of the book. 4he s atiote2 oral flo0 of the sanctuary scenes fro2 earth to heaven and back to earth" and fro2 daily to yearly 2inistrations to the cessation of all salvation functions" 2ay be su22ariNed as follo0s=

.=.%-%&

?.@

Earth - focus on earthly 0ork of Christ ?co2bined 0ith holy lace i2a!ery@ Inauguration of heavenly sanctuary - ?thorou!h 2i7 of sanctuary i2a!ery but holy lace focus@ Inter!ession in heavenly sanctuary K ?holy lace@ #u$gment in heavenly sanctuaryK ?#ost Holy 8lace@ (essation of heavenly sanctuary 2inistry &o0oiogy in heavenK?absence of e7 licit heavenly sanctuary i2a!ery@ Ba!. to Earth / P4abernacle of God is 0ith 2en.P

(-+ ;=*-+ ..=.' .+=+-; .'=.-.& %.=.-%%=+

?%@ ?*@ ?(@ ?+@ ?9@ ?:@

In the historical half of Revelation" the introductory sanctuary scenes naturally flo0 fro2 ChristGs death and resurrection ?Rev .=+".:".;A cf. +=9" 7'.%@ to the inau!uration of ChristGs sanctuary 2inistry 2ade ossible by +is death and resurrection ?Rev +@" to His intercessory 2inistry follo0in! +is inau!uration ?Rev ;=*" (@" and on to the 0ork of end-ti2e Lud!2ent ?Rev ..=.;".'@. Linear ,lo(Xrecapitulation se1uences. 4his lo!ical te2 oral ro!ression of sanctuary scenesKcross" inau!uration" intercession" Lud!2entK does not" ho0ever" i2 ly that the first half of Revelation roceeds chronolo!ically verse-byverse. Alon!side the basic linear plot hi!hli!hted by the introductory sanctuary scenes" there is found the re!apitulation sche2a si2ilar to the visions of $aniel ?$an %":";@. A historical ro!res-.F6n follo0s each introductory sanctuary scene and 2oves throu!h the Christian Era to ter2inate in a s otli!ht on last events and a descri tion t&f the !lorious cli2a7.*( 4hus the overall structure of Revelation is both
2: Strand' Interpreting Revelation, (;" outlines the basic fourfold attern of ?.@ victorious sanctuary

..+

Sanctuary 4y olo!y linear and reca itulatin!" like a Pconic s iral"P *+ or better" like a P2usic scale" that continually ro!resses in a linear direction 0hile revie0in! earlier tones in everricher vibrations.P*9 T$ematic relations %et(een sanctuary introductions and messa!es* 4he introductory sanctuary scenes not only structure the book of Revelation and de2onstrate its s atiote2 oral ro!ression" but they also serve to enhance the 2essa!e of the 2ain sections they introduce. *: Before Hohn is !iven the 2essa!es for the seven churches" he sees Christ dressed as a riest" 0alkin! a2on! the seven la2 stands ?the seven churches" Rev .=%&@. Christ" the antity ical hi!h riest" is tendin! the sanctuary la2 s. He is dischar!in! His "Smi$ ?continual or daily@ res onsibility to kee the la2 s burnin! bri!htly and continuously. 4he sy2bolic details e2 loyed to describe the riestly Christ in Revelation .=.&-%& are hi!hli!hted in Revelation % and * as they are a lied to each individual churchGs situation. 4hereby an inti2ate connection bet0een HeavenGs riest and His 2essa!es to the seven churches is revealed. 4he connection 2eans assurance and co2fort= Christ is in the 2idst of the la2 stands ?.=.%@" 0alkin! a2on! the2 ?%=.@. He kno0s their condition and cares. But there is also 0arnin!= Christ announces the covenant curses a!ainst the churches if they continue in disobedience. #ovin! to the seven seals" Fenneth Strand has sho0n ho0 these seals Pre resent the ste s or 2eans by 0hich God throu!h Christ re ares the 0ay in history for the o enin! and readin! of the !reat book of destiny at the Lud!2ent in the eschatolo!ical consu22ation.P*; Strand entitles this section" PGod Jorks for #anGs Salvation.P*' It is a ro riately introduced in a heavenly sanctuary scene revealin! God on +is throne ?Rev (@ 0ith Christ in His resence truly 1ualified to break the seals and o en the scroll ?Rev +@. $es ite the trials and tribulation of GodGs eo le and the see2in! divine delay in vindication of the ersecuted and 2artyred ?9='" .&@" yet" accordin! to Revelation (" God is in controlV As in 8sal2 %=( and HabakvisionA ?%@ historical ro!ressionA ?*@ s otli!ht on last eventsA and ?(@ !lorious cli2a7 as ita ears in the scenes of the seals ?Rev(=l-;=l@" tru2 ets ?Rev ;=%-..=.;@" and the contestin! forces ?Rev ..=.'-.(=%&@. Sec also cha s. % and * in this volu2e. *+ Elisabeth Schiissler FiorenNa" The Boo. o" Revelation, #usti!e an$ #u$"ynent ?8hiladel hia" .';+@ .:.. *9 8aulien" PInterte7tuality"P %&. *: Ma (ell' .9(-99" and assi2" is hel ful in ointin!out the close relationshi %et(een the sanctuaiy scenes and the sections that follo0 the2 in Revelation. *; Stran$, Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, +:. *' Ibid. 666

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

kuk %=%&" God Iord Al2i!hty" the Creator" sits serenely on His throne" the 6ne 0ho 0as" and is" and about to !ome to set thin!s ri!ht. Further2ore" accordin! to Revelation +" Pthe title-deed" as it 0ere" to 2anGs lost inheritance ... has been re urchased by Christ" the Ia2b.P(& 4he 8aschal Ia2b has been slain and by His blood He has ranso2ed 2an for God. He is 0orthy" therefore" to take the scroll and break the seals= He 0ill be resent 0ith and at 0ork for His eo le durin! the ti2e of their affliction. 4he close the2atic relationshi bet0een the introductory sanctuary scene and its 2essa!e that follo0s is found also in the third 2aLor section of the book. In the introduction to the tru2 et series ?Rev ;=%-9@ the an!el-2ediator 2in!les incense 0ith the rayers of the saints u on the !olden altar in the heavenly sanctuary" a ortrayal of the Pon!oin! 2ediation of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.P Accordin! to Hon 8aulienGs analysis of this assa!e and its relationshi to the fifth seal ?Rev 9='-..@" the P rayers of the saintsP refer articularly to the i2 recatory rayers of the ersecuted and 2artyred saints ?received by the 2inisterin! an!el fro2 the earthly Paltar of burnt offerin!"P and then 2inistered in a heavenly conte7t at the !olden altar of the heavenly sanctuary@. (% 4he incense ?a sy2bol of ChristGs 2erits@ 2akes these rayers acce table" and Pthe seven tru2 ets are GodGs res onse to the rayers of the saints for ven!eance on those 0ho have ersecuted and 2artyred the2.P In the heavenly sanctuary ty olo!y" the !olden altar and incense" the sources of 2ediation in the earthly ty e" 2er!e 0ith a ortrayal of Lud!2ent that fall u on the reLectors of the heavenly 2ediation. 4he censer is filled 0ith fire and thro0n to the earth" consonant 0ith the de iction of divine e7ecutive Lud!2ent fro2 the sanctuary in ENekiel .&=.-9 and re2iniscent of the e7 erience of5adab and Abihu ?Iev .&=.-*@. (( As 8aulien uts it" P4he censer of rayer and the censer of Lud!2ent have beco2e

one.

In the fourth section of Revelation" the introductory scene in Revelation ..=.' clearly oints to the #ost Holy 8lace of the heavenly sanctuary"
:M I%id*' 33* :6 Pauiien, "ecodin$ &evehaon !s Tru#pets, 262J 8aulien here ?*.%-.*@ !ives several lines o, evidence t$at su ort t$e eIuation o, Christ (it$ the an!el or at least indicate t$at the incense is !iven by Christ. :A I%id*' 266-A2* :2 I%id*' 2AM* :: See i%id*' *%&B%%" for discussion and elaboration. :3 I%id*' 2AA* ..:

Sanctuary 4y olo!y and in articular to the heavenly ark of the covenant therein. Attention is thus dra0n to the Ia0 of God ?contained in the ark@ as the basis of Lud!2ent ?the $ay of Atone2ent@ and to the 2ercy seat as the source of assurance in the Lud!2ent. 4hese the2es are then develo ed throu!hout the section. 4he announce2ent of end-ti2e Lud!2ent is roclai2ed ?.(=9":@" and the 2arks of GodGs eo le are e2 hasiNed= the kee in! of the co22and2ents and the faith of Hesus ?.(=.%A cf. .%=.:@. Jith the fifth introductory sanctuary scene in Revelation .+" 0e have 2oved fro2 the historical to the eschatolo!ical ? ost robationary@ half of the book. 4hus the sanctuary scene is really t0ofold. First" 0e find in verses %-( a icture of those 0ho are con1uerors in the stru!!le a!ainst the beast and his i2a!e and the nu2ber of his na2e" standin! u on >epi5 the heavenly sea of !lass ? art of the heavenly sanctuary scene in Revelation (=9A the antity ical P2olten seaPS@(9 sin!in! the Son! of #oses and the Ia2b ?a ty olo!ical the2e fro2 the E7odus 2otif" E7od .+@. Second" in verses +-;" the Pte2 le of the tent of 0itness in heavenP is o ened to release the seven la!ue an!els and then closed. Hust as the !lory of the Iord filled the sanctuary>te2 le on earth at the close of HudahGs robation and the co22ence2ent of the e7ecutive Lud!2ent u on her ?ENek .&=*-(@"(: so here in Revelation the s2oke fro2 GodGs !lory" fillin! the te2 le so that none can enter" a ears to si!nal the close of robationary ti2e and the co22ence2ent of e7ecutive Lud!2ent u on the ene2ies of God. 4hese t0o sanctuary scenes in Revelation .+ are reludes to the final re0ards for thesaints and final unish2ents for the 0ickedA they are a ro riately follo0ed ?in inverse order@ by a focus u on unish2ent and re0ard in the re2ainder of the book.(; 4he si7th sanctuary scene ?Rev .'=.-.&@ focuses u on heavenly raise
(9 Further study is needed to confir2 0hether the ty olo!y here !oes beyond the 5Red SeaP E7odus 2otif to include an allusion to the antity ical PtavecP of the sanctuaiy. Althou!h the 0ord lay in .iyyor ?2eanin! both PlaverP and Pso2ethin! to stand onP@ and the verbal arallel o"lhalassa ?the sa2e 0ree# 0ord for PseaP in Rev .+=% and in the descri tion of the P2olten seaP in Solo2onGs te2 le" % C$r (=%" L//H' ma#e it te2 tin! to acce t such an inter retation" the lack o, clear evidence in the te7t" and t$e outer court settin! ,or the laver ?0hich court settin! in Rev refers to earthly thin!s@ ma#e suc$ a vie( roble2atic. (: #any have ointed to the arallel 64 assa!es ($ere the !lory of the Lord fills the sanctuary>te2 le at its inau!uration= E odus (&=*(-*+A . F!s ;=.&-..A % Chr +=.*-.(A :=.-%. +o(ever' the assa!e in ENekiel Wn" often overlooked" seems to rovide a closer the2atic and structural arallel in its Pclose-of- robationP and e7ecutive Hud!2ent conte7t. (; See #a70ell" :A3* 66=

Sanctuary 4y olo!y for GodGs Lust Lud!2ents that are lar!ely ast and the 2arria!e su er of the Ia2b that is Lust ahead. Jhile the do7olo!y crescendos" e7 licit de ictions of the heavenly te2 le are absent. 4he section that follo0s this scene is transitional. Jth ChristGs salvation 0ork co2 lete the heavenly sanctuary as the center of the rede2 tive activity fades fro2 vie0. 4he final hases of Hud!2ent ?to be discussed belo0@ are carried out" and the 0ay is re ared for the earth-heaven tension in salvation history to be resolved. In the seventh sanctuary scene ?%.=.-%%=+@" the 5e0 Herusale2 descends to earth" and the ronounce2ent is 2ade" PBehold" the tabernacle Zs.ehS[ of God is 0ith 2enP ?Rev %.=*" RS3@. 4he ulti2ate ur ose for 0hich the earthly sanctuary 0as built on earth" Pthat I 2ay d0ell in their 2idstP ?E7od %+=;@" is no0 consu22ated= 5+e 0ill d0ell 0ith the2.P ?Rev %.=*@. 4he ulti2ate theocentric>Christocentric focus of the heavenly sanctuary is hi!hli!hted as Hohn 0rites" PAnd I sa0 no te2 le in the city" for its te2 le is the Iord God the Al2i!hty and the Ia2b.P ?Rev %.=%%@. 4he focus of activity in the city is no0 do7olo!ical ('Kall the redee2ed !ather about the throne in the city to 0orshi Hi2" their ulti2ate 4e2 le ?%%=*@.+&

Kearly Cycle o, 1estivals


Another 2aLor area of sanctuary ty olo!y a ears to be e2bedded in the overall literary arran!e2ent of Revelation. 4his is the ty olo!y of the Israelite cultic festivals ?Iev %*@" Already in the 64 there are hints that the yearly cultic calendar of Israel refi!ures the s0ee of salvation history. 4he author of Hebre0s asserts this truth 0hen he says that the sacrificial syste2 0as Pa sha$ow of the !ood thin!s to !ome6 ?Heb .&=.@. 4here 0as a !enuine reality to 0hich each of these ty es ointed. 4he fact that the cere2onies needed to be re eated Pyear after yearP revealed their o0n inade1uacy and i2 ennanence" but underscored the sufficiency and er2anence of the co2in! realities. Israel9s maGor ,estivals* 4he 8assover see2s to be identified 0ith co2(' At the consu22ation o, salvation history" the heavenly sanctuary or te2 le a arently returns to its ori!inal do7olo!ical function. In har2ony 0ith this su!!estion" Ellen Jhite 0rites that throu!hout eternity t$e redeemed 0ill 0orshi fro2 Sa%%at$ to Sabbath 5in the sanctuaryP ?Ellen G. Jhite" Testimonies "or the Church = T#ountain Vie(' CA' .'(;U= *9;@. +& It has %een su!!ested %y so2e that t$e cubical sha e o, the 5e0 Herusale2 ERev %.=.9@ indicates t$at t$e entire 5e0 Herusale2 %ecomes t$e 5Most +oly &lace5 of the ne( eart$ and t$e lace o, 0orshi for t$e redee2ed around the throne in the city ERev %%=.-*@. See" 0eor!e Eldon Iadd"-( (ommentary on the Revelation o" #ohn ?Grand Rapids' .':%@" %;%A Ro%ert f* #ounce" The ook o" Revelation, NICNT E0rand Rapids' .'::@" *;&. 667

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

2ence2ent of IsraelGs salvation history= BBIliis 2onth shall %e for you the be!innin! of 2onthsA it shall be the first 2onth of the year for youP ?E7od .%=%@. 4he Feast of 4abernacles" the last festival in the yearly cultic cycle" see2s to be identified 0ith the a ocaly tic consu22ation of IsraelGs salvation history. GodGs ori!inal lan for the 0indu of the !reat controversy bet0een !ood and evil 0as to be throu!h the a!ency of literal" national Israel ?had she re2ained faithful to God@. In this conte7t <echariah describes ho0" follo0in! the final a ocaly tic battle and the restoration of Herusale2 and the earth" the inhabitants of the earth 0ould co2e year by year to the !reat eschatolo!ical feast par e0!ellen!e, the Feast of 4abernacles ?<ech .(=.9@. 4hus" the first and last feasts ofIsraeFs cultic calendar see2 tied to the inau!uration and consu22ation of IsraelGs salvation history res ectively. It can be ar!ued that the three 2aLor feasts of Israel refi!ure the threefold substructure of 54 salvation history. +. God co22anded Israel" P4hree ti2es in the year you shall kee a feast unto 2eP ?E7od %*=.(@. 4hese are identified as the Feast of /nleavened Bread ?connected 0ith 8assover@" the Feast of Harvest ?8entecost@" and the Feast of In!atherin! ?4abernacles@" in verses .(-.9. 4hese are the only ti2es of asse2bly in the cultic calendar actually called PfeastsP >hag5 in Scri ture. Correlative (it$ t$e 54 salvation $istory* 4he si!nificance and ti2in! of these three feasts correlates 0ell 0ith the dyna2ics of 54 salvation history. 4he ti2e of the first 8assover and unleavened Bread brou!ht te2 oral rede2 tion to Israel. 4hey 0ere Predee2ed by the blood of the la2bGB ?cf. E7od .%=%.-%*@. 4hey 0ere delivered fro2 bonda!e" but they had not yet arrived in Canaan. Salvation history for the2 0as inaugurate$, but not yet consu22ated. In the 0ilderness they 0ere livin! in the tension bet0een the PalreadyP and the Pnot yet.P It is in har2ony 0ith the biblical data" and held by He0ish tradition" that the !ivin! of the la0 fro2 #t. Sinai took lace at the ti2e of the ori!inal 8entecost.+% At this ti2e the covenant 0ith Israel 0as ratified. 4hus" the nation 0as incor orated as GodGs covenant eo le. For (& years the eriod of livin! Pbet0een the ti2esP continued" and Israel appropriate$ the covenant blessin!s. At last Israel reached Canaan" and her te2 oral rede2 tion 0as !onsummate$. 4he nation could no0 celebrate the Feast of 4abernacles" a !lad
+. See chart * ? . .%'@. +% E7od .'=.A cf. Bab Talmu$, &es* 9;bA Vohar, Vitro, :;to.

.%&

Sanctuary 4y olo!y re2inder of divine rotection durin! the eriod of 0ilderness 0anderin!" and an occasion of reLoicin! over the consu22ation of their te2 oral salvation history. Seventh-day Adventists are !enerally fa2iliar 0ith ho0 the 54 finds the antity ical fulfill2ent of these three feasts ?and the associated cultic Phi!h daysP@ in the eschatolo!ical salvation history brou!ht about by Christ. Christ died at 8assover ti2e" as the antity ical assover Ia2b ?. Cor +=:@" 0ith unbroken bones ?Hohn .'=*9A E7od .%=(9@. +e arose on the third day as the antity ical 0avesheaf" firstfruits of the future harvest ?. Cor .+=%*A Iev %*=.&-..@. Fifty days later antity ical 8entecost is fully co2e. As in the ori!inal 8entecost at #t. Sinai" there no0 co2es fire" earth1uake" and a blast of 0ind ?Acts %=.-*A cf. (=*.@. As God had 0ritten +is la0 on tables of stone 0ith His o0n fin!er" +e a!ain 0rites the la0 0ith the fin!er of His S irit ?Iuke ..=%&A #att .%=%;@" this ti2e u on 2enGs hearts ?Her *.A Heb ;A .&@. And as Israel beca2e GodGs s ecial covenant eo le" so the 5e0 Israel beco2es ChristGs ne0 covenant church. 4he S rin! feasts 2et this fulfill2ent at the co22ence2ent of NT salvation history. In like 2anner the fall hi!h holy days ?4ru2 ets and $ay of Atone2ent@ leadin! u to and includin! 4abernacles at the end of the cultic calendar find fulfill2ent in connection 0ith the a ocaly tic consu22ation of 54 salvation history. 4his is the s ecial focus of the book of Revelation that lies at the heart of Adventist self-understandin! as a ro hetic>a ocaly tic 2ove2ent. 1estival ty olo!y. 4he overall structure of the book of Revelation 2ay be seen to follo0 the s0ee of salvation history as set forth in the 64 festival ty olo!y. 4he !eneral outline of Revelation a ears to ro!ress se1uentially throu!h the 64 festivals. Ho0ever" 0hile an 64 ty e finds basic fulfill2ent in one of the three as ects of salvation history ?Christ" church" final cli2a7@" at the sa2e ti2e i2 lications of the sa2e ty e 2ay be found in the other as ects of eschatolo!ical fulfill2ent. Such see2s to be the case in sanctuary festival ty olo!y" as illustrated in chart ( ?see . .*&@" and therefore each succeedin! section of Revelation 2ust not be e7 ected to have e7clusive reference to the corres ondin! festival. <* Passover the#es. In the introductory sanctuary scene of Revelation . there is a stron! e2 hasis u on aschal the2es. 6nly here in the book is there such a stron! concentration u on ChristGs death and resurrection.+* Christ says to Hohn" PFear not" I a2 the first and the last" and the
32 Althou!h the reference to the slain Ia2b is found in Rev+A9" it is a Ia2b that ha$ been slain, i2-

.%.

Sanctuary Typology

livin! oneA I died" and behold I a2 alive for ever2ore" and I have the keys of $eath and Hades.P ?.=.:-.;@. Earlier in the cha ter !race is seen to co2e fro2 Hesus Christ" Pthe faithful 0itness" the first-born of the dead"... 0ho... has freed us fro2 our sins by his bloodP ?.=+@. 8aulien notes that ChristGs Pscrutiny of the churches re2inds one of the He0ish householdGs search for leaven Lust before 8assover ?cf. E7od .%=.'A .*=:@.P+( #. $. Goulder oints to Pan ancient tradition for each church to have a aschal candle burnin! in 0orshi fro2 Easter to 8entecost"P++ and su!!ests this as a back!round for the scene of seven la2 -stands for the seven churches. Goulder also rovides intri!uin! evidence that other 2aLor 2otifs in Revelation . are inti2ately tied to 8assover. +9 And the earthly settin! co2 orts 0ith 8assover" the only festival 0ith its ri2ary fulfill2ent in the earthly Christ. <. Pentecost the#es. 4he introductory sanctuary scene of Revelation (+ a ears 2ost likely to ortray the inau!uration cere2ony of the Ia2b in the heavenly te2 le"+: an event that took lace durin! the ten days follo0in! ChristGs ascension" reachin! its cli2a7 on the day of 8entecost. +; If this inter retation is correct" then the second 2aLor section of Revelation 2ay be re!arded as inti2ately connected 0ith the antity ical 8entecost. At the ti2e of HohnGs vision both the antity ical 8assover and 8entecost 0ere ast events 0ith on!oin! conse1uences. In the heavenly litur!y Hesus" the Iion>Ia2b" is declared 0orthy to o en the seals" to co22ence His heavenly salvation 0ork re aratory to o enin! the book of destiny at the final Lud!2ent. It is not 0ithout si!nificance that the traditional He0ish lectionary readin!s for 8entecost are E7odus .'=.-%&=%* and ENekiel I. +' 4hat the throne
lyin! t$at its deat$ receded the t$rone scene of Rev 3* +( 8aulien" PIntertc7tuality"P .+. Ibid." also documents the connection bet0een t$e 2anna ?Rev %=.:@ and &assover in Early Hudais2" and notes the allusion to a P2eal of 2utual fello0shi P in Rev *=%&. ++ p. $. Goulder" P4he A ocaly se as an Annual Cycle of 8ro hecies"P NTS ?.';.@= *++. +9 Ibid." oints out t$at t$e 2otif of ChristGs return u on the clouds 0ould be identified by First century readers 0ith &assover' inas2uch as 5it 0as at 8assover that the early church 2ost 0idely e pected C$rist9s return*5 ?See his n. %( ,or Be(is$ and C$ristian evidence.@ +e further ? . *+9@ ar!ues that the PIordGs dayP ERev .=.&@ in HohnGs day refers to Easter. It see2s 2ore robable" ho0ever" that this hrase refers to the (ee#ly Sabbath" althou!h t$is could at the sa2e ti2e be a hi!h Sa%%at$* +: See n. %( above" +; See Ellen 0* Jhite" The &esire o" ges ?#ountain Vie(' CA' .'(&@" ;*(A and id." The !ts o" the 'post%es EMountain Vie(' CA' .'..@" *;-*'" for support of this vie0. Basic biblical evidence under!irdin! this osition includes such assa!es as Dan '=%(A Acts .=;A %=*%-**A Heb .=;" 'A 8s 622;A* +' See 0oulder' *+9 Eand q. **-*(@. 0oulder oints out that the Rabbinic atte2 t to forbid the read-

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Sanctuary 4y olo!y

vision of Revelation ( is dra0n lar!ely fro2 ENekiel . is un2istakable 0ith their si2ilar ortrayals of the throne" the rainbo0" and the four livin! creatures. Several details also a ear to allude to E7odus .'= 5ote es ecially the voices and the li!htnin!s ?Rev (=+A cf. E7od .'=.9@" the voice of the tru2 et ?Rev (=.A cf. E7od .'=.9-.'@" and the su22ons to Pco2e u P ?Rev (=.A cf. E7od .'=%(@. 4he connection 0ith E7odus .' is not sur risin! since" as 0e have already noted" the !ivin! of the 4orah ?Ia0@ on #t. Sinai robably coincided 0ith the first 8entecost. If 2odeled after the Sinai e7 erience" Revelation + 2ay be seen in a sense to resent Christ as the antity ical #oses" receivin! the ne0 4orah fro2 0od* At the first 8entecost #oses offered the bloody sacrifice to ratify the Sinaitic covenant of rede2 tion ?E7od %(=;A cf. E7od %&=%A $eut '=..@" and Israel 0as inau!urated as a Pkin!do2 of riestsP ?E7od .'=9@. In like 2anner the slain Ia2b" by His Pblood of the covenantP ?#att %9=%; a E7od %(=;@" redee2ed 2en for God ?Rev +=9" '@ and inau!urated the2 as a Pkin!do2 and riests to GodP ?Rev +=.&@. =. Tru#pet the#es. In the third 2aLor section of Revelation the seven tru2 ets recall the seven 2onthly ne0 2oon festivals 0hich for2 a transition bet0een s rin! and fall feasts and cli2a7 in the PFeastP of 4ru2 ets ?5u2 .&=%" .&A %'=.@. Hust as the Feast of 4ru2 ets ?also called Rosh Hashana" the He0ish 5e0 Mear@" su22oned ancient Israel to re are for the co2in! day of Lud!2ent" Mo2 Fi ur" so the tru2 ets of Revelation es ecially hi!hli!ht the a roach of the antity ical Mo2 Fi ur. Jhile the seals vie0 the s0ee of history fro2 the ers ective of ChristGs inau!uration and for0ard" the tru2 ets see2 to reach back0ard in salvation history as tokens throu!hout the Christian Era that God 0ill Pre2e2berP ?that is" act on behalf of@ His eo le and as 0arnin!s to re are for the antity ical day of atone2ent.9& 4he tru2 et-calls to re entance co2e throu!h successive 0arnin! Lud!2ents and reach their cli2a7 in the interlude after the si7th tru2 et ?Rev .&-..@. It is in kee in! 0ith the Feast of 4ru2 ets i2a!ery that the s otli!ht on last events ?in this interlude bet0een the si7th and seventh tru2 ets@ details the ti2e of the Great $isa oint2ent and the be!innin! of the investi!ative Lud!2ent in .;((.9. 4he seventh tru2 et brin!s to consu22ation the historical s0ee of
in! of ENek . co2es about HohnGs li2e ? . *+:@. 6M See &aulien' &e!o$ing Revelation+s Trumpets, cha . *" for a fuller ortrayal of the 2eanin! of tru2 ets. 9. See the discussion of the PENekiel atternP above" . ..(-.+A and #a70ell" %9'-;&.

.%*

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

this section of Revelation 0ith a descri tion of the !lorious cli2a7= P4he kin!do2 of the 0orld has beco2e the kin!do2 of our Iord and of his Christ" and he shall rei!n for ever and ever.P ?Rev ..=.+@. 4hen the res onse of the t0enty-four elders ?..=.;@ su22ariNes in advance the flo0 of the re2ainder of the book= the nations ra!e" divine 0rath" Lud!2ent of the dead" re0ard of the saints" destruction of the 0icked. 9% >. "ay of 'tone#ent the#es. 4he introductory sanctuary scene to the fourth 2aLor section of Revelation ?Rev ..=.'@ ushers us into the #ost Holy 8lace for the co22ence2ent of the antity ical holiest day of the cul-tic year" the day of atone2ent ?Mo2 Fi ur@. 4he seven !reat controversy scenes that follo0 hi!hli!ht the announce2ent that Pthe hour of his Lud!2ent has co2e.P ?.(=:@. 4he ty ical Mo2 Fi ur included not only ?.@ the 0ork of investi!ative Lud!2ent" final atone2ent" and the cleansin! of the sanctuary ?Iev .9@" but also ?%@ retributive>e7ecutive Lud!2ent u on unre entant sinners in the ca2 ?Iev %*=%'-*&@" and ?*@ the rite of eli2ination by 2eans of ANaNelGs !oat bein! sent a0ay into the 0ilderness ?Iev .9=.&" %&-%%@. Iike0ise" in the antity e" the day of atone2ent in Revelation carries us throu!h the investi!ative Lud!2ent ?..=."%".'A .(=:@A throu!h the seven last la!ues ?cha s. .+-.9@" and the Lud!2ent of Babylon ?.:=.-.'=(@A and on throu!h the 2illennial consi!n2ent of Satan to the P0ildernessG3botto2less it and the concurrent revie0 Lud!2ent by the saints ?%&=.-.&@ to the cli2atic 0hite throne Lud!2ent and the final eli2ination of sin in the second death ?%&=..-.+@. 4he day of atone2ent thus enco2 asses the investi!ative" revie0" and e7ecutive hases of final Lud!2ent. 9, 3* ?east of Ta,ernac%e the#es. In Revelation %. the antity ical day of atone2ent ?Mo2 Fi ur@ is over" the Pca2 is clean"P and the antity ical Feast of 4abernacles can co22ence. It is a2aNin! to note ho0 2uch of the final section of Revelation ?and the s otli!hts on the final re0ards of the redee2ed in earlier sections@ is couched in the i2a!ery of tabernacles. 4he 1east of 4abernacles 0as also called the Feast of In!atherin!" co2in! after the harvest had been !athered into the !a2er. Iike0ise the anti6A &aulien' &e!o$ing Revelation+s Tru#pets, **:-*'. 62 A nu2ber o, allusions to OT passa!es in t$ese sections actually constitute investi!ative Lud!2ent>$ay of Atone2ent i2a!ety. For e7a2 le" the re,erence to Satan as the Paccuser of our brethrenP ?Rev .%=.&@ recalls the investi!ative Lud!2ent scene of <echariah * ?cf. Jhite" The Great Controversy. (;(A Ellen 0* 8$ite' Testi#onies to .inisters NMountain 3ie0" CA" .'9%U" *;-(.@. 1or an analysis of t$e investi!ative and e7ecutive Lud!2ent u on Babylon alon! the lines of t$e la0 of the 2alicious 0itness in Deut .'=.9-%." sec Dennet$ Strand" P40o As ects of "a%ylon9s Hud!2ent 8ortrayed in Revelation -S+ ;SS %& ?.';%@= +*-9&.

.%(

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

ty ical feast follo0s the harvest of the earth ?Rev .(=.(-%&@ and constitutes the final in!atherin! of GodGs eo le into their harvest ho2e. Israel of old ca2e to Herusale2 at the Prevolution Zi%*u"wh[ of the yearP ?E7od *(=%%@ to celebrate the feast for seven days ? lus an ei!hth. Lev %*=**-*:@. In the antity e" a ocaly tic Israel enters the 5e0 Herusale2 at the revolution of the a!es ?P Gthe for2er thin!s have assed a0ay.B... GBehold" I 2ake all thin!s ne0GP TRev %.=("+U@ to celebrate and P0orshi for ever and everVP ?:='-.:=%%=*-+@. In the historical 64 feast the Israelites d0elt in PtabernaclesP >su..ot5 fro2 0hence the feast derived its na2e. In the antity ical finale" Pthe tabernacle Zs.Sn\, as in Iev %*=(% IDDU of God is 0ith 2en" and he 0ill d0ell Zs.Snoo[ 0ith the2" and they shall be his eo le" and God hi2self shall be 0ith the2P ?Rev %.=*" FH3@. Ancient Israel 0as co22anded to PreLoice before the IordP ?Iev %*=(&@ at the feast. In actual ractice this 2eant the 0avin! of al2 branches" sin!in!" the layin! of instru2ents of 2usic and a !reat feast. In the a ocaly tic fulfill2ent there is a!ain the 0avin! of al2 branches ?Rev :='@" !lorious anthe2s of raise ?:=.&A .(=*A .+=%-(@" har ers layin! on their har s ?.(=%@" and the !reat 2arria!e su er of the Ia2b ?.'='@. $urin! the ty ical feast the 0orshi ers 0ere to re2e2ber their ti2e of 0ilderness 0anderin! ?Iev %*=(*@. In ractice this develo ed into t0o impressive cere2onies= ?.@ Pthe 0ater of out ourin!"P sy2boliNin! the 0ater fro2 the rock that had sustained Israel in the barren 0ildernessA and ?%@ the Pcere2ony of li!hts"P co22e2oratin! the illar of fire that had !uided the2 throu!h the desert. 9+ Both of these cere2onies by the first century A.$. had been reco!niNed for their #essianic i2 ort. Hesus clearly ointed to0ard their Christolo!ical fulfill2ent in Hi2self as the li!ht of the 0orld and the 0ater of life ?Hohn :=*:A ;=.%@99 In the final" !lorious" a ocaly tic fulfill2ent of the feast" the 0ater festival is there. 5ot Hust a !oblet fro2 the ool of Siloa2" nor even 0ater !ushin! fro2 a rock" but a Priver of the 0ater of life" bri!ht as crystal" flo0in! fro2 the throne of God and of the Ia2bP ?Rev %%=.@. And the li!ht cere2ony is there. 5ot la2 stands in the court of the 0o2en" nor even a illar of fire" nor even the daNNlin! sun" but the P!lory of God is its li!ht" and its la2 is the Ia2bP ?%.=%*@. HesusG final a eal in the book see2s to
9( For t$e rabbinical ractice" see" #ishnah" Su..ah I.F-:. =I For a descri tion of these cere2onies" see #ishnah" Su..ah (.'A +..-*. 66 See Ray2ond R Bro0n" The 'ospel !!or$ing to #ohn >i-0ii5, AB ?Garden City" NK' .'99@" *%93$.343#45. .%+

Sanctuary 4y olo!y continue the tabernacles i2a!ery= PIet hi2 0ho is thirsty co2e" let hi2 0ho desires take the 0ater of life Tthe 0ater of the ulti2ate 4abernaclesU 0ithout riceP ?%%=.:@.

Conclusion
As 0e conclude this survey of sanctuary ty olo!y" 0e should note so2e additional related ty olo!ical i2a!ery not referred to in the !eneral discussion of the sanctuary 2otif 0ithin the overallstructure of Revelation. So2e of these allusions are e7 licitA other references are 2ore elusive. 4he Phidden 2annaP ?%=.:@ certainly belon!s to the E7odus 2otif" but it 2ay also refer to the 2anna PhiddenP inside the ark in the #ost Holy 8lace ?cf. E7od .9=*%-*(A Heb '=(@. 4he ro2ise to the overco2ers in Sardis that they 0ould be clothed in 0hite !ar2ents ?*=(@" 2ay su2boliNe 2ore than urity>ri!hteousness. 4he sy2bol 2ay also oint to their role as antity i-cal riests 0ith Christ ?such a role is 2ade e7 licit in .=9A +=.&@. 4he several references to the t0enty-four elders ?(=(" etc.@ 2ay allude back to the Ievitical riesthood and its t0enty-four courses ofIevitical riests ?. Chr %(=.-.'@. 4he four livin! creatures" 2entioned re eatedly throu!hout Revelation ?(=9-'" etc.@ are al2ost identical 0ith the bein!s in ENekiel . and .&. In the latter assa!e they are identified as Pcherubi2.P 4hese bein!s 2ay be re!arded as the antity ical corres ondents to the cherubi2 over the ark in the earthly sanctuary.9: Finally" in a si2ilar vein" the nu2erous allusions to the 8sal2s and other 64 hy2nic assa!es in the heavenly litur!y of raise 2ay be seen in antity ical relationshi to the earthly litur!ical sal2s in ancient IsraelGs sanctuary. 9; It is not an overstate2ent to conclude that the final book of the 54 !athers all the 2aLor threads of 64 sanctuary ty olo!y and 0eaves the2 into an intricate and beautiful ta estry to for2 the backdro for the entire book. In the rocess" the ro het reveals the centrality and cruciality of the sanctuary 2otif for unlockin! the structure" 2essa!e" and 2eanin! of the A ocaly se.
9: Interestin!ly" Eiten G. Jhite indicates that Pfour heavenly an!els al0ays acco2 anied the ark of 0od in all itsLou2eyin!s" to !uard it fro2 all dan!er" and to fulfill any 2ission re1uired of the2 in conneclion 0ith the arkP >The Spirit o" 4rophe!y TBattle Cree#* Ml' .;:&U" .=*''@. 9; See above" n. :A cf. 2aLor co22entaries on Revelation for e7a2 les of the co ious allusions to the 8sal2s in the litur!ical hy2ns of Revelation.

.%9

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

C$art 6 "i%lical Typolo!y; An Overvie( o, Issues


I. Si!nificance of 54 4y olo!ical Inter retation of the 64 A. #odern Assess2ents= .. Ieonard Go elt= 4y olo!y Pis the central and distinctive 5e0 4esta2ent 0ay of understandin! Scri ture.P %. G. E2est Jri!ht= P4he one 0ord 0hich erha s better than any other describes the early ChurchGs 2ethod of inter retin! the 64 is Gty olo!y.BP *. Robert #. Grant= P4he 54 2ethod of inter retin! the 6ld 0as !enerally that of ty olo!y.P (. g. Earle Ellis ?1uotin! J. G. Fii22el@= P4y olo!ical inter retation e7 resses 2ost clearly Bthe basic attitude of ri2itive Christianity to0ard the 64AP B. Criti1ue= 4he above assertions 2ay overstate the case" but certainly ty olo!y rovides an i2 ortant case study into 54 her2eneutics. II* 40o #odern 3ie0s of Biblical 4y olo!y= 4raditional and P8ostcriticalP A. 4raditional= 4y olo!y is the study of divinely desi!ned refi!urations ?in the for2 of ersons>events>institutions@ that oint for0ard to their anti-ty ical fulfill2ent in Christ and !os el realities brou!ht about by Christ. B. P8ostcritical 5eoty olo!yP= 4y olo!y is the study of historical corres ondences bet0een 64 and 54 ersons" events" and institutions" retros ectively reco!niNed 0ithin the consistent revelation of God in history. C. #aLor ele2ents of difference= 4raditional Historical-Critical .. Rooted in historical realities .. Historicity not essential. ?historicity essential@. A* Divinely-desi!ned pre,i!u- %. Analo!ies>corres ondences rations' (it$in GodGs similar modes o, activity. *. 8ros ective> redictive. *. Retros ective ?little or no redictive ele2ent@. :* &re,i!urations e tend to (. Involves only !eneral P ar-speci,ic details' allel situations.P 3* Includes vertical ?sanctu- +. ReLects vertical as alien to aryH ty olo!y" biblical perspective ?Hebre0s a 2ythic>dualistic@. 9. Involves consistent rinci- 9. 5o syste2 or orderK free- ies of inter retation" do2 of S irit. .%:

Sanctuary 4y olo!y

C$art A Typolo!ical Interpretation o, t$e Old Testament;


Identi,yin! T$e Types
6ld 4esta2ent ly e ?8erson>Event>Institution@ .. E7odus= Book of E7odusA Hos ..=.Aetc. 6ld 4esta2ent 3erbal Indicator of 4o olo!y 5e0 4esta2ent Announce2ent of Antity e

5e0 E7odus. Antity ical E7odus% Hos %=.(-.+A .%='".*A .*=(-+A Her #att .-+A Iuke '=*.A etc. %*=(-;A .9= Q-.+A *.=*%A Isa ..=.+-.9A *+A (&=*-+A (.=.:-%&A (%=.(-.9=(*=.-*..(-%.A (;=%&%.A ('=;-.%A +.='-..A +%=*-9"...%A ++=.%-.*

%. Sanctuary E7od %+-(&

Heavenly 6ri!inal* Heavenly 6ri!inal E7od %+=(&A 8s ..=(A .;=9A 9&=9A Heb ;=+A '=%(A Rev ;=.-+A 9*=%A 9;=*+A '9=9A .&%=.'A .+&=.A ..=.'A .9=.A etc. Isa 9A Honah %=:A #ic .=%A Hab %=%&A etc.

B. Honah 4he Book of Honah

5e0 Honah Antity ical Honah Hos 9=.-* ?a Israel@A Isa (.-+* #att .%=(&A etc. ?#essiah re resents and reca itulates e7 erience of Israel= Isa (.=;A (%=.A ((=.A ('=*9A +%=.*-+*=..A etc.@

:. EliLah . F!s .:-.'

5e0 EliLah #al(=+"9

Antity ical EliLah #att ..=.(A #ark '=..A Iuke .=.: Antity ical #oses Hohn .=%.A 9=.(A ;=(&A etc.

+. #oses 8entateuch

5e0 #oses $eut .;=.+..'

. See C Q. Dodd' !!or$ing to the S!riptures, The Substru!ture o" New Testament Theology ?Iondon" .'+%@" esp* :+-.**. % See 0eor!e "alentine' P4he Conce t of the Ne( E7odus in the 0ospels'5 ?4h.$. diss." Southern "aptist 4heolo!ical Se2inaly" .'9.@A c,* id." P$eath of Christ as a 5e0 E7odus"P RevE0p +' ?.'9%@= %:-(.. * See $avidson" T%olo"y in S!ripture, *9:-;;A id-. Issues in the Boo. o" Hebrews, .+9-9'.

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1our,old Esc$atolo!ical Su%structure o, Typolo!y
Resolve lension
Overarc$in! Vertical Dimension

Irru tion of 8o0ers of A!e to Co2e 8entecost First Advent 6ld 4esta2ent 4his A!e -] NX Holy S
?ml Second Ad_ent

A!e to Co2e -`^

In Fin!do2 Ian!ua!e

6I$ 4ES4A#E54 4heocratic Fin!do2 ?$irect Rule by God or His Earthly 3ice!erent@ 3erbal 8redictions of Endti2e 6ld 4esta2ent 4y es 8ersons" Events" Institutions 5ational" Ethnic Israel E7odus Sanctuary>4e2 le

CHRIS4GS FIRS4 A$3E54B Fin!do2 of Grace ?#att .%=%;A Heb (=.9@ Inau!urated Eschatolo!y

4HE CH/RCH 4ension Bet0een PAlreadyP and P5ot MetP f#att .9=.'@ A ro riated Eschatolo!y

CHRIS4GS SEC65$ A$3E54BB Fin!do2 of Glory ?#att %+=*.@ Consu22ated Eschatolo!y

In Eschatolo!ical Ian!ua!e 4M86I6GM 4y olo!ical Fulfill2ent As ects Fulfill2ent #ode E7a2 les ?.@ ?%` ?*@

5e0 4esta2ent Antity es Christ ?Christolo!icat@ Iiteral" Iocal Fulfill2ent 5e0 Israel ?#att %=.+@ ChristGs E7odus ?#att .-+A Iuke '=*.@ Christ as 4e2 le ?Hohn .=.(A %=%.A ,YKYYsKKKU,KK.t

Church ?Ecclesiolo!ical@ S iritual" /niversal" 8artial Fulfill2ent Israel of God ?Gal 9=.9@ S iritual E7odus ?Heb(A%Cor9=.:@ Church as 4e2 le ?lCor*=.9".:A ,KKKYKKIKK

Final Cli2a7 ?A ocaly tic@ Glorious" Final Iiteral Fulfill2ent A ocaly tic Israel ?Rev :=(@ A ocaly tic E7odus ?Rev .+=.-*@ Heavenly 4e2 le> /lti2ate 4e2 le ?Rev *.%,..+,',%/,%@

pSee . Cor Iftll" Pend of the a!e`GA Heb .=%" Pthese last daysPA . 8et .=%&. Pend of the ti2eB.G

PSee . Cor .+=%(" PendPA Heb '=%;" Psecond Tiine-A . 8el .=+" Plast ti2e.P

C$art : 1estivals O, Leviticus A2; Typolo!ical Aspects in t$e Ne( Testament


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. ?5ISA5@ .9 * ?SI3A5@ 9 R. FAII= : ?4ISHRI@ .

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: ?4ISHRI@ .&

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: ?4ISHRI@ .+-%%

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C$apter VI

Relations$ips "et(een Daniel and Revelation


Richard Ieh2ann
Editorial Synopsis* As historicist inter reters" Adventists have al0ays reco!niNed the close bond bet0een $aniel and Revelation. So2e subLects" first resented in $aniel" are re eated and elaborated u on in Revelation inas2uch as both cover the s0ee of the Christian Era. In .'&% Ellen Jhite 0rote" PIt 0as 2y idea to have the t0o books bound to!ether" Revelation follo0in! $aniel" as !ivin! fuller li!ht on the subLects dealt 0ith in $aniel. 4he obLect is to brin! these books to!ether" sho0in! that they both relate to the sa2e subLectsP XTestimonies to )inisters T#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'9%U" ..:@. Since 2odern liberal scholarshi denies the possi%ility of prop$ecy and restricts $aniel and its 2essa!e to a second century "*C* &alestine settin!' the resent author su!!ests that todayGs c$urc$ needs ,urt$er reasons to Lustify its study o, Daniel and Revelation to!et$er* In addition to the ties of co22on literary !enre ?a ocaly tic@ and co22on subLect 2atter" he su!!ests another line of evidence= NT references to $aniel %":" and '. 4he 54 0riters 0ere not PfuturistsP in the 2odern reli!ious sense of the ter2. Rather" they reco!niNed that the eschatolo!ical arts of $aniel ha$ not yet been "ul"ille$/ in their ti2e or rior to their ti2e but 0ere destined for fulfill2ent at so2e oint "uture to the2. Conse1uently" it is le!iti2ate to link $aniel 0ith Revelation at their oints of co22on concern in the Christian Era. Fro2 a 0ider ers ective the author su!!ests that co22on ethical concerns" chronolo!ical ti2e eriods" as 0ell as the e2 hasis on the #essianic Son of 2an in $aniel and Revelation so co2 le2ent and su le2ent each other that the t0o ro hecies 2ust be studied to!ether.

.*.

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation

C$apter Outline
I. Introduction II. 5e0 4esta2ent /se of $aniel III. RevelationGs Allusions to $aniel I3. Jhy Study $aniel and RevelationS

Introduction
It is traditional rocedure a2on! Seventh-day Adventists to analyNe the books of $aniel and Revelation accordin! to their 2utual relationshi s. . For e7a2 le" it should be evident to any reader that the ani2als of $aniel : are to be found a!ain in the sea beast of Revelation .*" that the 2illennial and e7ecutive hases of final Lud!2ent in Revelation %& are not 0ithout connection 0ith the descri tion of the readvent Lud!2ent in $aniel :" and that the soLourn of the 0o2an in the 0ilderness in Revelation .%=9" .( is identical 0ith that of the ersecution of the saints 2entioned in $aniel :=%+. But not all researchers see the linka!e in the sa2e 0ay. Certain theolo!ians refer to see Isaiah and ENekiel as the backdro to Revelation.% It beco2es necessary" therefore" todayK2uch 2ore than in the astKto Lustify our choice and our readin! of the book of Revelation in connection 0ith the book of $aniel. Jhat reasons can 0e advance for ali!nin! Revelation es ecially 0ith the book of $anielS If 0e see a related link bet0een the t0o ro hecies" it is essentially because (e find in the2 the sa2e descri tion" both recurrin! and continuous" of the history of the 0orld and of the church. Je believe these books deal 0ith our 0orldGs history and set its 2ain sta!es in connection 0ith the story of rede2 tion. Historical-critical scholarshi re!ards the book of $aniel as restricted to second century B.C. Hudais2. 6nly a fe0 verses are acce ted as ro. PStudy Revelation in connection (it$ Daniel5 EEllen 0* 8$ite' Testi#onies to )inisters T8acific &ress* .'9%U" ..9@A T$e %oo#s o, Daniel and t$e Revelation arc one5 ?Ellen G. Jhite Co22ents" in 1* D* Nic$ol' ed*' The S"' i,%e Co##entary P TJashin!ton" DC' FQIP^, ':.@. % E-!." B* Com%lin' Le Christ dans I+ po!a"ypse C4ournai" 6763H' ... .*%

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation hetic in nature. Conse1uently" it is necessary to establish fro2 the Scri tures 0hether $aniel had an a ocaly tic 2essa!e reachin! beyond that era. 8e 2ay le!iti2ately ask the 54 0riters if $aniel touches on end-of-ti2e events and 0hether they sa0 the fulfill2ent of its ro hecies as takin! lace at oints future to their day. If 0e can ans0er these 1uestions in the affir2ative" 0e then have the ri!ht to link $aniel and Revelation on the basis of a co22on inter retation. #oreover" if 0e can establish that $anielGs ro hecies 0ere erceived in 54 ti2es to have recise historical a lications" then 0e 0ill be able to inter ret the t0o books as dealin! 0ith the continuous history of this 0orld in relation to the lan of salvation.

5e0 4esta2ent /se of $aniel T$e Stri#in! Stone


4he ro hecy of $aniel % is a narration of a succession of olitical o0ers e7tendin! fro2 $anielGs day to the end of ti2e ?$an %=*9-(+@. $id t$e 54 authors vie0 this ro hecy already fulfilledS It is true that the Gos els refer only to the last art of itKthe stone that strikes the 2etallic i2a!e u on its feet. But it is of interest to see 0hether they erceived the destructive action of the stone as a ast or a future event. Two references are 2ade to the ro hecy of $aniel %. In Iuke %&=.; and #atthe0 %.=(( reference is 2ade to a stone. PJhosoever shall fall on t$is stone shall be broken= but on 0ho2soever it shall fall" it 0ill !rind hi2 to o0derP ?#att %.=((" FH3@. 4he readin! of these t0o te7ts could su!!est that they are alludin! to 8sal2 ..;=%%-%* rather than to $aniel % since the for2er assa!e deals 0ith the stone" reLected by the builders" that beca2e the cornerstone of the 4e2 le. Ho0ever" for several reasons 0e believe that in this case Hesus co2bines both references ?8s ..; and $an %@ in His state2ent. Both Gos el te7ts see2 to recall the t0ofold action stated in $aniel %=*(-*+. 4he stone" it 0as said" brea.s the kin!do2s into ieces and scatters the2 like Pthe chaff of the su22er threshin! floors.P In other 0ords" the stone brea.s and threshes. In the Gos els ersons are bro.en 0ho fall on the stone or are !rushe$ if the stone falls on the2. In addition" #atthe0 and Iuke use the sa2e Greek verb as the IDD ?4heod.@ in $aniel %=(( for Pcrushin!P or Pthreshin!.P P4o threshP ?Greek" _`aba`H occurs in the IDD ?4heod.@ only in $aniel %=(( and Ruth *=%. It see2s evident that 0hen #atthe0 and Iuke state that he 0ho falls .**

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation

u on the stone 0ill be bro.en and he u on 0ho2 the stone falls 0ill be threshe$/the sa2e verbal order as in $anielKthey have $aniel % in 2ind. It is 0orth kno0in! ho0 Hesus and the Gos el 0riters understood this stone reference in $aniel. $id they look at the events of the first century as a fulfill2ent of the ro hecyS So2e think they didA I do not. Lu#e %&=.;. Iet us analyNe the i22ediate conte7t of the reference taken fro2 Iuke %&. It follo0s the arable of the 0icked husband2en ?Iuke %&='.9@ and foretells IsraelGs Lud!2ent. Jhen the harvestti2e a roaches" the o0ner 0ishes to receive the fruit of his vineyard. But the 0ickedness of the husband2en co2 els hi2 to e7ercise Lud!2ent on the2 and to let out the vineyard to a ne0 tea2. His listeners 2entally refuse such an outco2e. Ho0 could God choose another nationS So HesusKs eakin! to the silent 1uestionKasks the2" PJhat is this then that is 0ritten" 4he stone 0hich the builders reLected" the sa2e is beco2e the head of the co2erSP ?vs. .:" FH3@. 4hen He brin!s u the reference to $aniel % ?vs. .;@. A su erficial readin! 2i!ht lead the reader to think that Hesus sees His reLection by the He0s as the fulfill2ent by Israel of the ro hecy of $aniel %. A closer readin! sho0s that this is not the case. 4he es!hatologi!al "uture of verse .; should be noted ?shall fall>shall be brokenA shall fall>0ill !rind to o0der@. 4he effects of the stone are roLected to0ard an undeter2ined future. Further2ore" if the desi!nation" Pbuilders"P oints to IsraelGs leaders or to the nation itself" the P0hosoeverP of verse .; su!!ests a universal appli!ation. 4he Lud!2ent to fall u on Israel in A.$. :& is but a historical e7a2 le ointin! to 0hat 0ill ha en to P0hosoeverP reLects the #essiah. 4his inter retation is confir2ed by #atthe0Gs assa!e" 0hich is 2ore elaborate than IukeGs. Matt$e( A6;::* 4his verse has not been retained by all e7e!etes. I believe" ho0ever" alon! 0ith The S& Bible (ommentary, that it can be 2aintained. 4he verse a ears in i2 ortant 2anuscri tsA and its o2ission in others can be e7 lained as a co yistGs error due to the si2ilar endin! 0ord in verses (* and (( >au"es"auton5 in the Greek te7t. Further2ore" verse (( fits erfectly into the line of reasonin! in the conte7t. 4he Gos el of #atthe0 is stron!ly church oriented. Beda Ri!au7 says that to enter into #atthe0Gs Gos el is like enterin! a cathedral. It is not sur risin! that #atthe0 is 2ore detailed and recise here than is Iuke. Hence he records HesusGs state2ent" P4he kin!do2 of God shall be ... !iven to a nation bringing "orth the "ruits thereo" ?vs. (*@. Further2ore" .*(

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation

Hesus does not 2ake +is reference to $aniel % after the 8sal2 ..; citation but i22ediately after +is notin! the co2in! of another Pnation.P Je have" therefore" in successive order= verse (% and 8sal2 ..;A verse (* and the transfer of the kin!do2A verse (( and $aniel %. 4he reference to the church ?kin!do2 of God@ is set bet0een the t0o references to a stone. 3erse (% is linked to verse (* by 2eans of a conLunctionKPthereforeP >$ia touto5/0hich sho0s that if Hesus is the cornerstone" He is the cornerstone of the church. 3erse (( is linked to verse (* by 2eans of the de2onstrative ronoun of closeness >houtos, PthisP@ instead of the de2onstrative ronoun of distance >e.einos, PthatP@ found in Iuke. Had #atthe0 0anted to ski the reference to the church ?vs. (*@ in order to link verse (( to (% ?the t0o stone state2ents@" he 0ould have si2 ly used IukeGs Pthat Ze.einos[ stone.P 4his line of thou!ht 2eans that the church is built u on Hesus Christ ?vs. (%@" and that it artakes in +is victory ?vs. (*@. 4he attitude of t$e Be(s to0ard the church is si2ilar to the one they have to0ard Christ. $oes this 2ean then that the church is the kin!do2 foretold in $anielGs ro hecyS 5ot at all. For three reasons the stone is not to be identified 0ith the church at ChristGs first advent. First" there is the future tense of verse (( as 0e observed earlier ?P0hosoever shall fall on this stone shall %e broken"P etc.@. 6nly the final Lud!2ent 0ill reveal and de2onstrate the victory of the church. Second" there is the distinction that Hesus 2akes in the arable bet0een the first and the second co2in! of the householder. Jhen he sends his son" the ti2e of the harvest is not yet co2e. As #atthe0 said" it is only dra0in! PnearP ?vs. *(@. But 0hen the householder co2es to e7ecute Lustice on his 0icked husband2en ?vs. (&@" it is also 0ith a vie0 of receivin! the fruits in their ti2e. So" accordin! to the arable" there is only one ti2e of harvestA 0hen Hesus 0as on earth this ti2e 0as only Pa roachin!.P An additional reason lies in t$e ,act t$at Matt$e( !ives a detail ?vs. :6H t$at does not appear in Lu#e; t$e ne( $us%andmen (ill Prender hi2 t$e ,ruits in t$eir seasons'5 t$at is" at $arvesttime* It is not until then that t$eir ,ait$,ulness (ill %e demonstrated* T$is un(ittin! allusion to the c$urc$ %y t$e &$arisees can %e e plained in terms o, t$e arable and the record %y t$e Semitic met$od of inclusion* T$is 2ethod consists of re eatin! at t$e end o, a story ?vs. (.@ the the2e o, t$e be!innin! ?vs. *(@ in order to !ive t$e account co$erence*2 T$e ro er ,unction of the ne( hus* See e.!." #att :=.9" %&A .%=*'"(+A .+=%" %&A .9=9".%A .;=."(" etc.

.*+

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation band2en recalls the oint of the story" its 2ain obLect. At the ti2e of the harvest the Iord 0ill co2e to receive the fruit. 4here is therefore a ti2e in the "uture 0hen the Iord 0ill co2e to His vineyardA at that ti2e He 0ill be received by His o0n. 4he ro hecy of $aniel % concerns the en$ o" time. 4he stone ?kin!do2@ that 0ould PthreshP ?!rind@ the nations" accordin! to ChristGs 0ords" 0as future to His day and ertains to the victorious establish2ent of the eternal kin!do2 of God. 4his finds confir2ation also in the fact that the church of !enuine believers is not fully 2anifested until Pthe ti2e of the harvest"P P0hen he TChristU shall co2e to be !lorified in his saints" and to be ad2ired in all the2 that believe... in that dayP ?% 4hess .=.&" FH3@. T$e Son o, ManJ A%omination o, Desolation After $aniel %" it is not sur risin! to see the 54 !ive even 2ore attention to $aniel :. C. H. $odd thinks this 64 cha ter Pbelon!s to the very foundations of 5e0 4esta2ent thou!ht.P( 4his cha ter served as a oint of reference for Hesus as 0ell as for the a ostles. 4he 2ost obvious reference ?althou!h not directly 1uoted@ is $aniel :=.*Kthe ro hecy of the Son of 2an co2in! in the clouds. A!ain" accordin! to $odd" Pobviously 0e have to deal 0ith one of those assa!es 0hich fro2 the be!innin! !uided in a decisive fashion the thou!ht and the vocabulary of the church concernin! that 0hich had to do 0ith one of the essential oints of the Fery!2a" the return of Christ as Lud!e and Saviour of hu2anity.P+ 4he Son of 2an in the clouds is 2entioned by Hesus in His eschatolo!i-cal discourse. PAnd then shall they see"P He said" 6the Son o" man !oming in the !lou$s 0ith !reat o0er and !loryP ?#ark .*=%9" FH3@. Before the Sanhedrin" He included 0ith the $aniel allusion a reference to 8sal2 ..&=.. PMe shall see the Son o" man sittin! on the ri!ht hand of o0er" and !oming in the !lou$s o" heaven6 ?#ark .(=9%" FH3@. An i2 licit reference to $aniel : is resented in the 0ords of the an!els to the a ostles at the ascension of Hesus 0hen a !lou$ received hi2 out of their si!ht= P4his sa2e Hesus" 0hich is taken u fro2 you into heaven" shall so !ome in li.e manner6 ?Acts .=.." FH3@. 4he a ostle 8aul dre0 an obvious conclusion fro2 it= At the return of Christ the redee2ed 0ill be cau!ht u 6in the !lou$s, to meet the Jor$ in the airP ?. 4hess (=.:" FH3@.
4 C. ). Dodd! 3onfor+anent au6 1criiures '}ari0! 1.6"]! 6.. 5 3{id#! 67.

.*9

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation

It is ossible that 0hen 8aul asserts that the saints 0ill Lud!e the 0orld ?. Cor 9=%@" he is thinkin! of $aniel :=%% 0here it says that PLud!2ent 0as !iven to the saintsP ?FH3@ and they ossess the kin!do2 ?see also Rev %&=(@. $aniel :=.; also declares that the saints of the #ost Hi!h 0ill receive the kin!do2. 4his allusion to the rei!n of the saints is reflected in % 4i2othy %=.%. Finally Hesus asserts that it is +e 0ho a oints the kin!do2 unto the saints so that they 2ay rei!n 0ith Hi2 ?Iuke %%=%'"*&A cf. Rev +='-.&@. 4he thou!hts of $aniel :=.;"%% are co2bined in a sin!le state2ent by Hesus in #atthe0 .'=%;KPIn the re!eneration 0hen the Son of 2an shall sit in t$e throne of his !lory" ye also shall sit u on t0elve thrones" Lud!in! the t0elve tribes of IsraelP ?FH3@. Jet us note that these pre$i!tions $o not re"er to an event in the past but are oriente$ towar$ the "uture. Let us observe that these &aniel re"eren!es in $ventist interpretation have a "uture es!hatologi!al !hara!ter. It is the same in the use ma$e o" them by the NT. And these are not the only ones. 6thers could be added. For e7a2 le" $aniel .%=%>#atthe0 %+=(9A $aniel .%=*>#atthe0 .*=(*. Iet us conclude this art of our study by e7a2inin! the e7 licit reference by Hesus to the Pabo2ination of desolationP ?#att %(=.+" FH3@. 4he He0s 0ere fa2iliar 0ith the book of $aniel. 4hey a arently sa0 in the sacrile!e er etrated by Antiochus E i hanes the fulfill2ent of one of its ro hecies ?. #ace .=+(A 9=:@. Ho0 could it have been other0ise for an afflicted eo le 0ho atte2 ted to understand conte2 orary events in the li!ht of ro hecyS All that they still 0aited for 0as Pthe consu22ation" and that deter2ined shall be oured u on the desolateP ?$an '=%:" FH3@ and the #essiahGs a earance. 4he advent of the #essiah and the end of the 0orld 0ere one and the sa2e event in their esti2ation ?#att %(=*@. Jhat is strikin! about HesusG reference to Pthe abo2ination of desolation" spo.en by &aniel the ro hetP is that +e !orre!ts the interpretation t$at the Be(s !ave of it. For Hi2 Pthe abo2ination of desolationP ha$ not yet amve$H #esus proAe!te$ into the "uture beyon$ His time what #ewish thou$ht !onsi$ere$ to have ta.en pla!e. Assuredly" it is Hudea" and 2ore recisely Herusale2" says Iuke" 0hich sees the be!innin! of these events" %ut they 0ill e7tend universally" for the ri!hteous have to be !athered fro2 the four 0inds" the ut2ost arts of the earth" u to the eternity of heaven ?#ark .*=%:@. Je 2ay conclude this section by observin! that as far as 0e have surveyed $anielGs ro hecies inter reted in the -, none is seen as havin! had an a lication in the ast or the resent by the 0riters of the 54 Each .*:

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation ti2e the 2aterial is inter reted eschatolo!ically" it is art of the ro hecies of $aniel that deal 0ith the end of ti2e. 4herefore" 0e have every reason to think that the book of $aniel is seen by the 0riters of the 54 as a book 0hose fulfill2ent is e7 ected in the future beyond the2" that is" at the end of the a!e. Does this 2ean that the 54 0riters are ado tin! a futuristic 2ethod of inter retationS 5o" because as 0e have seen" they are 1uotin! those ortions of the ro hecies of $aniel % and : that are the2selves dealin! 0ith the end of ti2e. References to the te7t of $aniel ' 0ill sho0 us that the ri2itive church read the ro hecies of $aniel in a chronolo!ical and continuous fra2e0ork. For Hesus and the authors of the 54" the book of $aniel ?s ecifically cha ters % and :@ is not to be inter reted in a reteris-tic sense. In these !reat outline scenes 0e are dealin! 2uch 2ore 0ith the ti2e to co2e.

Besus' t$e Anointed One o, Daniel 7


4he ro hecy of the :& 0eeks ?$an '@ has been the subLect of considerable study. 6ur 1uestion is" $id the early church see the ro hecy of the :& 0eeks as 0e doS 4hat is" did it see in Hesus the fulfill2ent of this ro hecyS $id they re!ard it as havin! a chronolo!ical characterS Je have reason to say yes to these in1uiries. /nani2ously" historians affir2 that in the first century of our era the #essianic e7 ectation in Israel 0as in fer2ent. Je have so2e evidences of this in the 54 For e7a2 le" the a ostle 8aul Lustifies his a eal to Caesar before the chief of the He0s at Ro2e because of Pthe ho e of IsraelP ?Acts %;=%&@. 4his ho e could only be that of the #essiah ?. 4i2 .=.@. Iuke notes that 0hen Hohn the Ba tist a eared" Pthe eo le 0ere in e7 ectation" and all 2en 2used in their hearts of Hohn" 0hether he 0ere the Christ" or notP ?Iuke *=.+" DBVH* For 8aul" the 2atter is clear. PIn due ti2e"P he says PChrist died for the un!odlyP ?Ro2 +=9" FH3@. Hesus Hi2self a ears to be a0are of the ti2e ele2ent of this ro hecy foretellin! the a earance and death of the #essiah ?$an '=%+-%9A cf. #ark .=.+@. 4he evan!elist Hohn" 0ho !ives !reat attention to the 1uestion of chronolo!y" underlines this e2 hasis 0hen he records HesusG re eated observation that His hour 0as not yet co2e ?Hohn :=9";A %=(A :=*&@. In the u er roo2" Lust before he 0as arrested" Hesus rayed" PFather" the hour is co2eP ?Hohn .:=." FH3@. In this conte7t 0e 2ust understand the a ostle 8aulGs 0ords" P0hen the fullness of the ti2e 0as co2e. God sent forth his SonP ?Gal (=(" FH3@. .*;

Relations$ips "et(een Daniel and Revelation And ($en $e states recisely t$at Besus (as 5made o, a 0o2an" 2ade under t$e la0"P it is because $e t$in#s o, the comin! of Besus as situated in $istory* It is feasible" therefore" to assu2e that the ri2itive church reco!niNed Hesus to be the (hrist, that is to say" the Anointed 6ne" because it sa0 His ti2ed a earance and e7ecution as a fulfill2ent of $aniel '. An i2 ortant state2ent by Hesus indicates 1uite 0ell that He considered Hi2self the Anointed 6ne foretold by the ro hecy. He said in #atthe0 %9=%;" Pthis is 2y blood of the new testament Z!ovenant[, 0hich is shed>or many6 ?FH3@. 8hili #auro 2akes the re2ark that ChristGs 0ords could not be in 2ore erfect a!ree2ent 0ith those of the ro hecy= PAnd he shall confir2 the covenant 0ith 2any.P9 So the 54 confir2s that the ro hecy of the :& 0eeks concernin! the Anointed 6ne finds its fulfill2ent in the erson of Hesus. His co2in! and His death 0ere de endent u on a ro!ra2 kno0n and announced lon! a!o by the ro hecy. Je 2ay add that the relationshi bet0een the books of $aniel and Revelation is also in this area of #essianic ro hecy. 4he Seventh-day Adventist Church has !ood reasons to be interested in both ro hetic books. As a ocaly tic ro hecies" they resent history in its unfoldin! by associatin! it 0ith HeavenGs central focusKthe 8erson and the 0ork of Hesus Christ.

Revelation9s Allusions to Daniel


Jhat lace does the book of $aniel occu y in RevelationS If these t(o books have a close relationshi " 0e ou!ht to find so2e as ects of the %oo# of $aniel linked to Revelation. Q. R. S0ete has 2ade an analysis of the vocabulary of Revelation. Althou!h his 0ork is 1uite old ?the date of the second edition 0hich I have consulted is .'&:@: it 0ill be useful to us for our ur ose. Jhile certain Bible books are used 2ore than others in Revelation" there is a total absence of for2al 1uotations. #ore than half of the references are dra0n fro2 the 8sal2s" the ro hecies of Isaiah and ENekiel" and the book of $aniel. But accordin! to S0ete" ro ortional to its len!th"
6 &$ilip #auro" The Seventy -ee.s an$ she 'reat Tribulation ?Boston" .'%*@" ;." 1uoted by $. Ford" "anie% ?5ashville" .':;@" %&.. : Henry R. S0ete" The po!alypse o" St. #ohn, The 'ree. Te0t -ith Intro$u!tion, Notes an$ In$i!es, %nd ed. ?Iondon" .'&:@.

.*'

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation the book of $aniel is by far the 2ost used. ; Accordin! to 8.-#. Bo!aert" PI2 licit or e7 licit" the reference to $aniel constitutes one of the 2ost certain characteristics of literature of a ocaly tic ori!in.P It 0ould be tedious to !ive all the references" for there are 2ore than *&. But let us note several. 1irst' i2a!ery fro2 Daniel %. 4his prop$ecy o, Daniel concerns" P0hat s$all co2e to ass hereafterP EDan %=(+" FH3@. Bo$n uses this vocabulary in so2e nondescri tive sections to speci,y t$at $is visions concern Pthin!s 0hich 2ust shortly co2e to pass5 E6;6J AA;6' DBVH or PhereafterP ?(=.@. Accordin! to Daniel %=%;" the prop$et declared that t$e 0od ($o revealed se!rets $ad made kno0n to t$e kin! what shoul$ co#e to pass hereafter. 5o0 accordin! to Bo$n' it is Besus +imsel, ($o as#s hi2 to (rite the thin!s whi!h shall be herea"ter, the mystery o, t$e seven stars ERev .=%&@. 4hese allusions to Daniel A provide more t$an lin!uistic i2a!ery. 4hey are (ritten in t$e series o, events t$at succeed eac$ other. T$e use of the voca%ulary of Daniel is not done by chance. 1or e ample' the vision of $aniel ?cha . %@ closes (it$ the Gud!ment o, 0od sym%oliFed %y a stone t$at s2ashes the ima!e and scatters its ieces to suc$ an e7tent that Pthe 0ind carried the2 a(ay' t$at no p%ace was "oun$ "or them6 EDan %=*+" FH3@. In like 2anner the vision !iven to Bo$n about the resent 0orld ,inis$es (it$ t$e ,inal Lud!2ent scene o, 5a !reat ($ite t$rone' and hi2 t$at sat on it' ,rom ($ose ,ace the earth and t$e heaven fled a(ayJ and there was found no pla!e "or them6 ?Rev %&=.." DBVH* There is a !lear !orrespon$en!e ,etween the en$ o" the vision o" "anie% an$ the en$ o" the present worl$ a!!or$ing to John. T$e c$apter o, Daniel most cited in Revelation is cha ter :. See .% re,erences listed belo0..& Allusions to Daniel appear at times to do 2ore than provide p$raseolo!y* Rather" they are 0ritten in t$e perspective of a linear interpretation' in con,ormity 0ith ($at (e have ,ound else0here in t$e 54 1or e ample' Besus comes (it$ clouds ERev .=:A Dan :=.*@" and +e s$o(s +imsel, to Hohn as one li#e unto the Son of man ERev .=.*A Dan :=.*@. As in $aniel" the action of the little horn ends in the 0ar that it 0a!es
; Ibid." CIII. ' 8.-#. Bo!aert" PIes A ocaly ses conte2 oraines de Baruch"dGEsdras et de HeanP inI + po!alypse Aohanni*ue et I+ po!alypti*ue... ,B=. 6M Dan <J2XRev ..=:A Dan :=(-9>Rev 62;AJ Dan :=:>Rev 6A;2J Dan <;7XRev 6;6:J Dan :=.&>Rev AM;6AJ $an :=.&>Rev+=llA $an :=.*>Rev .=:A $an :=.*>Rev .=.*A $an :=.;>Rev %%=+A $an :=%&>Rev .*=+A Dan :=%.>Rev 62;<J Dan :=%+>Rev 6A;6:* .(&

Relations$ips "et(een Daniel and Revelation a!ainst the saints ?$an :=%.-%%"%+@" so in Revelation it is the sa2e for the sea %east that utters blas he2ies and 2akes (ar a!ainst t$e saints ERev .*=.-.&@. To be sure. Revelation is an ori!inal (or# and not a co y of $aniel. 4he t0o %oo#s are mar#ed' $o(ever' %y si2ilarities that Lustify t$eir 2utual readin! as t$e Sevent$day Adventist C$urc$ does* In addition to the 2any allusions to Daniel to %e ,ound in Revelation is the fact that both ro hetic %oo#s s$are t$e common c$aracteristics o, a ocaly tic 0ritin!... Apocalyptic prop$ecy presents a cosmic s(eep o, t$e !reat controversy bet0een !ood and evil' assurin! t$e %eliever o, 0od9s control o, $istory and t$e certainty of t$e vindication o, +is people in a !lorious eschatalo!ical cli2a7. T$us' the un,oldin! o, t$eir common the2e serves to illu2inate t$e respective prop$ecies o, eac$*

8$y Study Daniel and RevelationC


Je no0 note three characteristics that es ecially Lustify the co22on study of $aniel and Revelation in our ti2e. Et$ical 1uality. Ellen G. Jhite 0rites concernin! $aniel and Revelation" PJhen the books of $aniel and Revelation are better understood"
1+6 5

%elievers 0ill have an entirely di,,erent reli!ious e perience*5 P And a!ain" 58e need to study t$e (or#in! out o, 0od9s purpose in t$e $istory of nations and in the revelation of thin!s to come' that (e may estimate at t$eir true value thin!s seen and thin!s unseen*562 6ut of these apocalyptic %oo#s s rin! important ethical conse1uences. f* f* Ro(ley reco!niNes this truth 0hen $e (rites' 5T$e visions of $aniel and o, the %oo# of Revelation deserve our attention not only for t$e details o, t$eir ,orm' %ut for t$e !reat spiritual principle t$at t$ey u hold throu!hout.P.( T$e !eneral conviction re!ardin! this et$ical c$aracteristic is such t$at certain (riters think it is t$e only one* &* 1ruc$on' for e7a2 le" declares that the understandin! o, apocalyptic s$ould %e sycholo!ical or sociolo!ical' even aest$etic*63 It is in fact re2arkable to note that $aniel and Revelation both be!in 0ith e2inently ethical accounts ?$an .=9-%.A Rev .='@. 4hrou!hout the
.. For a co2 rehensive revie0 of these" see in this volu2e" Fenneth Strand" PFoundational 8rinci les of Inter retation"P cha . .. .% Jhite" Testimonies to )inisters, ..(. .* Ellen G. Jhite" E$u!ation ?#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'+%@" .;(. .( Q. Q. Ro0tey" The Relevan!e o" po!alypti! ?Iondon" .'((@" .%. 63 &* Fruchon" 6SurVi"iterpr=tationiiesapo!aiypses,6m po!alypsesettheologie$el+esperan!c ?8aris" .'::@" '9.

.(.

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation

visions there is resented a choice bet0een faithfulness to the 0ill of God or retreat before the terrible ressure of evil o0ers. 4he sy2bolic visions do not ro ose si2 ly to denounce GodGs ene2ies" but to call believers to co2lete faithfulness to the 6ne 0ho rei!ns and 0ho co2es to render Lustice. 4he ethical content of a ocaly tic ro hecy !ives it an eternal character. It recalls that the ro hetic content concerns the !reat conflict bet0een Satan and God in 0hich GodGs victory is !uaranteed. 4hus" attention is turned to0ard the final victory of God and its si!nificance for the believer. 4he faithful reader of $aniel and Revelation is not lost in s eculation about the future" rather he finds in these t0o books a clear understandin! of the ti2e in 0hich he lives and a 2otive for action. Iike the a ostle 8aul" 0ho announced the future co2in! of the Iord in the clouds of heaven and then advanced to the ethics of 2arria!e" olitical attitudes" social relationshi s" and the like" Lust so the a ocaly tic 0riters also sound an ethical di2ension callin! for the e7ercise of faith and obedience. 5othin! can rovide a better foundation for ethics than the e7 ectation of a Saviour 0ho is co2in! and the assurance $aniel and Revelation rovide by the 2ethodical and successive fulfill2ent of their ro hecies. C$ronolo!ical c$aracteristic* Chronolo!y is a 2aLor ele2ent in the books of $aniel and Revelation. 4his is the second si2ilar characteristic 0e shall consider. Althou!h H. #olt2ann does not !ive eschatolo!y the sa2e 2eanin! as Adventists do" he says 0ith !ood reason" PChristianity is co2 letely eschatolo!y" it is ho e" vision and orientation in advance" hence also a de arture and a chan!e fro2 the resent.... 4he eschatolo!ical ers ective is not an as ect of Christianity" it is in every res ect the centre of the Christian faith. 4here is assuredly only one real roble2 in Christian theolo!yA it is resented to it by its ur ose" and throu!h it" it is osed to hu2anity and to hu2an thou!ht= it is the roble2 of the future.P.9 /. 3anni" too" reco!niNes that PRevelation 0ould be" beyond its literary clothin!" a book of ro hecy.P.: And 8. 8ri!ent" 0ho is not sy2 athetic to0ard a readin! of Revelation in the Seventh-day Adventist style" has to ad2it that Pit is not a 1uestion of reducin! the 2essa!e of Revelation to the affir2ation of an eternal resent. P4he book"P he says" Pis full of state2ents relatin! to ti2e and even to chronolo!y. Je 2ust do Lustice to the2.P
66 B* Moltmann' Th!o"o""e de I+esperan!e ?8aris" .':&@" 6A* 6< )* 3anni" PIGA ocaly seLohanni1uc. Etat de la 1uestion"P mJ+ po!a"ypseAohamiu"ue..., %:.

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Relationshi s "et(een $aniel and Revelation 4hese ideas are arran!ed both in $aniel and Revelation in a 2anner o, recurrent co2 osition. H. Ia2brecht" 0ho analyNed the structure of Revelation" declares that re etition and ro!ression constitute the essential characteristics of the co2 osition of the book. 5o0" if these characteristics relate $aniel and Revelation to one another" it relates the2 also in the 2ethod of ritual discourse. Accordin! to Ievi-Strauss" this discourse is the o osite of 2yth and tries to Pre2ake a continuity fro2 a discontinuity.P .' A lied to history it could sho0 that it for2s an entity and tends to0ard a !oal. Each section is a se1uential resu2 tion of the sa2e !lobal history in order to add details and to ro!ress to0ard the e7 lanation. Je have cited several references" but they sho0 0ell that researchers of all shades of o inion ad2it" so2eti2es in s ite of the2selves" that a ocaly tic ro hecy de2ands it be oriented to0ard the future in a 2anner 1uite different fro2 the classical ro hets. P4o the cry of the ro hets" GHo0 lon!" & Iord" ho0 lon!SG the a ocaly tic 0riters !ive the year" the day" and the hour"G.%& as it 0ere. PIn other 0ords" ro hecy is understood no lon!er as apromise 0hich unlocks the future but as %pre$i!tion of events 0hich have to be fulfilled. At the sa2e ti2e a ocaly tic inter retation understands itself and fulfills itself as re!.oning an$ "ore!ast. PP Since $aniel and Revelation cover the sa2e eriods of history" they certainly deserve to be studied to!ether. At oints their chronolo!ical data overla each other" e7 ressed so2eti2es in the sa2e ter2s ?Rev .%=.(A $an :=%+@. Finally let us notice a last co22on ele2ent. T$e C$rist-centered nature of a ocaly tic. Je cannot fail to link $aniel and Revelation 0hen 0e discover in each the central fi!ure of the Son of 2an 0ho co2es in the clouds of heaven. P4he Christian vision of history that co2es to us fro2 8at2os is first of all that= a vision of Christ and of His indivisible but certain and irresistible art in history.P %% 4he first ro hetic 0ord of Revelation concerns the co2in! of the Son of 2an on
6= B* Ia2brecht" PA Stnicturation of Revelation (".-%%"+"P in J + po!alypse #ohanni*u! el I+ po!a-lypli*ue $ans Ie Nouveau Testament ?Ge2blou7" .';&@" .&*. 67 Puoted and used a!ain by B* C* &icard' 5Les Trois instances narrati1ue" sy2boli1ue et ideo-lo!i1ue"P in Roi et vie PI ?.':9@" .%-%+ ? a Cahiers bibli1ues .+@. AM D* S. Russet used a!ain by 8. Fruchon" PSur .Ginter retation des a ocaly ses"P in po!alypses et theologie de I+esperan!e..., (*+. A6 I%id*J cf. Bames "an^' @The chronolo!ical sche2e is o, funda2ental i2 ortance for the understandin! of the biblical te7t"P Bibli!al -or$s "or Time. SET' vol. ** ?Iondon" .'9%@" %'. AA f* o* Fcret" J + po!alypse $e saint #ean. Vision !hretierme $e I+histoire ?8aris" .'(*@" ';.

.(*

Relationshi s Bet0een $aniel and Revelation the clouds ?.=:@. 4he 0hole book is centered on this co2in!. It is !iven as a oint of reference to al2ost every church ?%=+" .9" %+A *=*".." %&@. It is !iven as a ter2inal oint= PSurely I co2e 1uicklyP ?%%=%&" FH3@. Conclusion #any relationshi s bet0een $aniel and Revelation are evident. For e7a2 le" the 0orshi of the i2a!e of !old in $aniel * and of the i2a!e of the beast in Revelation .*A the vision of Christ in $aniel .& and Revelation .A the fall of Babylon in $aniel + and Revelation .(" and .;A the God 0ho co2es to deliver His o0n in $aniel * and 9 and Revelation .(A the beasts of $aniel : and Revelation .* and .:A the ti2es of $aniel : and Revelation ..".%" etc. Both ro hetic books overla in their chronolo!ical data and ethical concerns. Hesus Hi2self dre0 the attention of His conte2 oraries to the stone of $aniel % and to the Son of 2an of $aniel :. 4he evan!elists ointed to the Anointed 6ne of $aniel '. 4he central lace of Christ in biblical a ocaly tic" the e2 hasis laced on His co2in!A all these Lustify for every Christian the 2utual study of $aniel and of Revelation.

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C$apter c]

Ellen 0* 8$ite9s )se o, Daniel and Revelation


Geor!e E. Rice
Editorial Synopsis* So2e Adventist Bible students 0ho ro ose dual fulfill2ents for selected ro hecies in $aniel and Revelation ar!ue that they Hnd endorse2ent for this a roach in the 0ritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite. A fe0 0ould abandon the historidst 2ethod alto!ether in favor of a futurist for2 of inter retation. But there is no evidence that Ellen Jhite thou!ht the church 0ould follo0 any other 2ethod of inter retin! these ro hecies than the historidst 2ethod. In her o0n 0ritin!s" the ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation unroll in historical ti2e fro2 the days of $aniel and Hohn until the establish2ent of the eternal kin!do2 of God. For e7a2 le" she reco!niNes the se1uential fulfill2ent across the Christian Era of the ro hecies of Revelation in a 2aLor state2ent= 3n t e `e_elation are @ortraEed t e dee@ thin/s o/ Dod.... Its trut 0 are addressed to those li_inJ in t e la0t daE0 o/ this eart ?0 i0torE! a0 Eelt a0 to t o0e livin/ in t e daE0 o8 *ohn. Some of the s enes depicted in this prophecy are in the past2 some are no1 ta&ing pla e3 some /rin0 to vie- the close of the 0reat conflict bet1een the po-ers of dar&ness and the !rin e of heaven, and some reveal the triumphs and aoys of the redeemed in the earth made ne-? "The cts of the postles, xountain Viev! 3A, 1111! 5"4! em@ a0i0 added.7 In this cha ter the author de2onstrates the historidst ers ective of the ioneers and Ellen G. Jhite. He e7a2ines a nu2ber of citations dra0n fro2 her 0ritin!s that are alle!ed to teach a double fulfill2ent rinci le that can be a lied to the ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation. 4he study focuses articularly on the si!nificance other oft re eated hrase" Phistory 0ill be re eatedP and her re2arks re!ardin! ChristGs ro hecy about the destruction of Herusale2 and the end of the 0orld.

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Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation C$apter Outline


I. Introduction II. 8ioneer 8rinci les of 8ro hetic Inter retation III. 4he Historicist 8ers ective I3. Herusale2 State2ents 3. 5one7 ositional /ses of 8ro hetic Ian!ua!e 3I. An E7 ositor 3II. Conclusions

Introduction
Since the for2ation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church there has been a tendency on the art of so2e to 2ove a0ay fro2 the si7teenth-century Refor2ation historicist a roach to the inter retation of Bible ro hecy. Jhereas Adventists have turned to history for the fulfill2ent of ro hecy and to understand the leadin! of GodGs hand in the affairs of nations" so2e believe that this a roach to ro hecy is a faulty her2eneutic. 8ointin! to the !reat disa oint2ent of .;(( as a ri2e e7a2 le" so2e critics of the historicist 2ethod insist that Adventists today have closed the door of advancin! truth by er etuatin! the erroneous her2eneutics of the Adventist ioneers. 4ruth cannot be seen by the use of this 2ethod" they say" because Satan has counterfeited and 2ani ulated secular history for the e7 ressed ur ose of 2isleadin! those 0ho 0ould inter ret ro hecy by the historicist 2ethodV Students of $aniel and Revelation 2ust understand" rather" that the ro hecies of both books have their fulfill2ent in a sin!le !enerationKthe last !eneration at the end of ti2e. 4hus" there are so2e 0ho 0ould look to the future for the fulfill2ent of 2ost of $aniel and Revelation. 4he ur ose of this study is to e7a2ine Ellen JhiteGs understandin! as to ho0 the ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation are to be studied" and ho0 she herself used assa!es fro2 these books in her o0n 0ritin!s. &ioneer &rinciples o, &rop$etic Interpretation Ellen Jhite is very clear that the Adventist ioneers 0ho studied the 2essa!es of $aniel and Revelation 0ere led by God as they used the historicist 2ethod to inter ret a ocaly tic ro hecy. Concernin! the e7 erience of Jillia2 #iller" she says"
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Ellen G. JhiteGs )se of $aniel and Revelation

Iink after link of the chain of truth re0arded his efforts" as ste by ste he traced do0n the !reat lines of ro hecy. An!els of heaven 0ere !uidin! his 2ind and o enin! the Scri tures to his understandin!. 4akin! the 2anner in 0hich the ro hecies had been fulfilled in the ast as a criterion by 0hich to Lud!e of the fulfill2ent of those 0hich 0ere still future" he beca2e satisfied that the o ular vie0 of the s iritual rei!n of Christ x a te2 oral 2illenniu2 before the end of the 0orld K 0as not sustained by the 0ord of God.

Findin! fault 0ith the historicist 2ethod is not a ne0 develo 2ent a2on! Adventists. Ackno0led!in! that there 0ere those in her day 0ho 0ished to reinter ret these t0o books" Ellen Jhite oints out that these eo le did not understand that God 0as leadin! the very 2en 0ho did a s ecial 0ork in settin! forth truth at the a ointed ti2e.% P4he Iord does not lay u on those 0ho have not had an e7 erience in His 0ork the burden of 2akin! a ne0 e7 osition of those ro hecies 0hich He has" by His Holy S irit" 2oved u on His chosen servants to e7 lain.P* Concernin! the ioneer historicist inter retation of the ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation" Ellen Jhite says" PI re eat" He TGodU is not leadin! anyone by His Holy S irit to fra2e a theory that 0ill unsettle faith in the sole2n 2essa!es He has !iven His eo le to bear to our 0orld.P( In .'&: she 0rote to A. G. $aniells" PJe have searched the Scri turesA 0e have built solidly" and 0e have not had to tear u our foundations and ut in ne0 ti2bers.GFor the benefit of later !enerations" lest they for!et" the e7 erience of those 0ho 0orked throu!h the ro hecies and 0ho had a art in the rocla2ation of the first and second an!elsG 2essa!es should be rehearsed.
4he Iord has declared that the history of the ast shall be rehearsed as 0e enter u on the closin! 0ork. Every truth that He has !iven for these last days is to be roclai2ed to the 0orld. Every illar that He has established is to be stren!thened. Je cannot no0 ste off the foundation that God has established. Je cannot no0 enter into any ne0 or!aniNationA for this 0ould 2ean a ostasy fro2 the truth.

6 Ellen 0* Jhite" The Great Controversy ?#ountain Vie(' CA' .'+&@" *%.. A Ellen 0* Jhite" Se%ected .essa$es, "oo# % ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'+;@" .... 2 I%id** ..%. ( Ibid." ..+. 3 Ellen 0* -hn!, )anus!ript Releases I ?Jashin!ton" DC Ellen G. Jhite Estate" .';.@= +(. 6 8$ite' Sele!te$ .essa$es, "oo# A'*'&.

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Ellen G. JhiteGs )se of $aniel and Revelation

T$e +istoricist &erspective


Althou!h Ellen Jhite does not use the ter2 Phistoricist"P it is clear that she understood the only ro er 0ay to inter ret $aniel and Revelation 0as to look for the unfoldin! of their ro hecies 0ithin the historical events that have occurred throu!hout the a!es. Rather than a tool in the hands of Satan to 2islead and confuse GodGs eo le" hu2an history" both secular and reli!ious" is the basis for inter retin! ro hecy. PIn the history of nations the student of GodGs 0ord 2ay behold the literal fulfill2ent of divine ro hecy.P: Concernin! the scroll of Revelation +" Ellen Jhite says" P4here in His o en hand lay the book" the roll of the history of GodGs rovidences" the ro hetic history of nations and the church.... and the history of all rulin! o0ers in the nations.P ; Iink by link the history of the hu2an race as outlined by God in His 0ord" for2s a ro hetic chain. Jithin this chain 0e can tell P0here 0e are today in the rocession of the a!es. P' By beholdin! fulfilled ro hecy 0ithin the course of hu2an history" GodGs eo le face the future 0ith confidence kno0in! 0hat is to co2e. Ellen Jhite s eaks in ter2s of the ro hetic chain runnin! throu!h history. Iink after link" God reveals history Pfro2 eternity in the ast to eternity in the future.P.& She s eaks in a si2ilar 0ay to the ro hecies in $aniel and Revelation as she e7horts 2inisters and eo le alike to trace the lines of ro hecy so that they P2i!ht have an intelli!ent understandin! of the erils and conflicts before the2.P.. Concernin! the nature of a ocaly tic ro hecy in !eneral" she says" P4he ro hecies resent a succession of events leadin! do0n to the o enin! of the Lud!2ent. 4his is es ecially true of the book of $aniel.P .% And concernin! the ro hecies of Hohn" she 0rites" 4he book of Revelation o ens to the 0orld 0hat has been" 0hat is" and 0hat is to co2eA it is for our instruction u on 0ho2 the ends of the 0orld are co2e.... In this book are de icted scenes that are no0 in the ast" and so2e of eternal interest that are takin! lace around usA other
< Ellen 0* Jhite. 4rophets an$ Nings ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'(*@" +&.. ; Ellen 0* 8$ile' .anuscript &e%eases Q,PS also )anus!ript Releases .%=%'9. 7 Ellen 0* Jhite" E$u!ation EMountain Vie(' CA' .'+%@" .:;. .& I%id*J 8$ite' Prophets ""n$Nmgs, 326* .. Ellen 0* 8$ite' The 'cts of the 'post%es ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'..@" +;*A see also" Bible E!ho, Bune *".;;'A Review an$ Heral$, Marc$ %'".;:&A Sele!te$ )essages, Book ."+9. .% Jhite" The 'reat (ontroversy, *+9. .(;

Ellen G. JhiteGs )se of $aniel and Revelation

of its ro hecies 0ill not receive their co2 lete fulfill2ent until the close of ti2e" 0hen the last !reat conflict bet0een the o0ers of darkness and the 8rince of heaven 0ill take lace..*

All Is Not 1uture It is 0ithin the conte7t of this ro hetic chain conce t that Ellen JhiteGs state2ent about the eleventh cha ter of $aniel 2ust be understood. 5T$e ro hecy of the eleventh cha ter of $aniel has nearly reached its co2 lete fulfill2ent.P.( 4he ro hecy is indeed a chain" resentin! link %y lin# the events that do0n throu!h history bear u on the e7 erience of 0od9s eo le until the end of ti2e. Ellen JhiteGs e2 hasis is that 0e have no0 reached the final links in the chain. 4hat she understands the ro hecy to find fulfill2ent 0ithin the successive history of nations is seen by the ne7t sentence of Ietter .&*".'&(" P#uch of the history that has taken lace in fulfill2ent of this ro hecy (ill %e re eated.P 4he events in the lives of hu2ankind and the rise and fall of nations is 0hat history is all about. Because ro hecy redicts the rise and fall of nations and the events that 0ill trans ire" it is only lo!ical t$at (e look to history for an understandin! of ro hecy. Each link in the ro hetic chain is to re are us to understand the ne7t series of events that are the2selves to beco2e history. PEach eriod of the fulfill2ent of ro hetic history is a re aration for the advanced li!ht ($ic$ 0ill succeed each eriod. As the ro hecy co2es to the end" there is to %e a erfect 0hole.P.+ Fee in! in 2ind that history is the unfoldin! of a ro hetic chain 0ill !uard us fro2 the error of lacin! the fulfill2ent of all a ocaly tic ro h-ecy0ithin a sin!le !enerationKthe last !eneration at the end of ti2e. State2ents like the follo0in! 0ill be understood 0ithin the conte7t of this chain= 5T$e li!ht that $aniel received fro2 God 0as !iven es ecially for these last days* T$e visions he sa0 by the banks of the /lai and Hiddekel" the !reat rivers ofShinar" are no0 in rocess of fulfill2ent" and all the events foretold 0ill soon co2e to ass.G 4his state2ent can hardly 2ean that none of Daniel9s ro hecies 0ill be fulfilled rior to the cli2actic events of history. For $aniel hi2self tells us that certain sy2bols in this book refer to Babylon"
62 Ellen 0* 8$ite Co22ents" The S"' i,%e (ommentary : ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'+:@= '+(A cf." id." The 'cts o" the postles, +;(-;+. 6: "len 0* Jhite" Testimonies Q ?#ountain Vie(' CA' .'(;@= .(A id." )anus!ript Releases .*=*'(. .+ Jhite" )anus!ript Releases .*=.+. .9 Jhite. Testimonies to )inisters, ..%-.*.

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Ellen G. JhiteGs )se of $aniel and Revelation

8ersia" and Greece. It is in those ro hecies taken u by Hohn in the Revelation" 0hich realiNe their fulfill2ent in the reachin! of the first" second" and third an!elsG 2essa!es" that $aniel stands in his lot. P$aniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days T$an. .%=.*U. Hohn sees the little book unsealed. 4hen $anielGs ro hecies have their ro er lace in the first" second" and third an!elsG 2essa!es to be !iven to the 0orld.P.: Ellen Jhite 0arns a!ainst 2isa lyin! ro hecy. She says such e7 eriences Pbe!in by turnin! a0ay fro2 the li!ht that God has already !iven.P .; 8art of the dan!er she 0arns a!ainst is the desire on the art of so2e to find a future fulfill2ent for ro hecies that have already 2et fulfill2ent. P4here are those 0ho are searchin! the Scri tures for roof that these 2essa!es Tthree an!elsGU are still in the future. 4hey !ather to!ether the truthfulness of the 2essa!es" but they fail to !ive the2 their ro er lace in ro hetic history.P.' 4he servant of the Iord 0arns"
4he !reat 0ay2arks of truth" sho0in! us our bearin!s in ro hetic history" are to be carefully !uarded" lest they be torn do0n" and re laced 0ith theories that 0ould brin! confusion rather than !enuine li!ht.... So2e 0ill take the truth a licable to their ti2e" and lace it in the future. Events in the train of ro hecy that had their fulfill2ent a0ay in the ast are 2ade future" and thus by these theories the faith of so2e is under2ined. Fro2 the li!ht that the Iord has been leased to !ive 2e" you are in dan!er of doin! the sa2e 0ork" resentin! before others truths 0hich have had their lace and done their s ecific 0ork for the ti2e" in the history of the faith of the eo le of God. Mou reco!niNe these facts in Bible history as true" but a ly the2 to the future. 4hey have their force still in their ro er lace" in the chain of events that have 2ade us a eo le 0hat 0e are today" and as such" they are to be resented to those 0ho are in the darkness of error.

+istory . Not &rop$ecy . to %e Repeated Ellen Jhite re eatedly states that as the controversy bet0een Christ and Satan 2oves to0ard its cli2a7" scenes fro2 for2er a!es of history 0ill be re eated. 4hus it is that she says" PStudy Revelation in connection 0ith $aniel" for history 0ill be re eated.P%. She does not say that s ecific
.: Ellen G. Jhite Co22ents" TheS& Bible (ommentary :=':.. .; 8$ite' Sele!te$ )essages, "oo# %"...-.%. .' Jhite" Evangelism, 9.*. %& Jhite" Sele!te$ )essages, "oo# %".&..*. %. Jhite" Testimonies to )inisters, ..9.

.+&

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation ro hecies in these t0o books 0ill be re eated" but that events si2ilar to those that fulfilled the2 in the ast 0ill be seen a!ain. 4hese events 0ill be seen 0ithin a different conte7t" 0ithin a different ti2e fra2e" and 0ith different actors. 4hus they are not the sa2e events that fulfilled the ro hecies" but si2ilar events. 4he issues" ho0ever" 0ill %e the sa2e as those that led to the historic events that ori!inally fulfilled certain ro hecies in the controversy bet0een !ood and evil. 4he Iord has set before 2e 2atters 0hich are of ur!ent i2 ortance for the resent ti2e" and 0hich reach into the future. 4he 0ords have been s oken in a char!e to 2e" PJrite in a book ZThe 'reat (ontroversy[ the thin!s 0hich thou hast seen and heard" and let it !o to all eo leA for the ti2e is at hand 0hen ast history 0ill be re eated.P Circumstances similar to t$ose that fulfilled ro hecy in t$e past 2ay e ist in t$e present* &resent circumstances are not" $o(ever' a ,ul,illment o, t$e prop$ecy' ,or t$e prop$ecy (as ,ul,illed historically %y the ori!inal set of circumstances* "ut t$e present !eneration 2ay be in,ormed %y t$e study of t$e prop$ecy and the $istorical record o, t$e events that ,ul,illed it' and thus %e prepared to lay an intelli!ent role in the si2ilar" resent circumstances* So it is t$at a prop$ecy' previously ,ul,illed' may in this sense %e 5applied5 to a present situation* Isaia$ 3=;6A-6: may be cited as an e ample* T$e prop$et t$us points out t$e ordinance 0hich $as %een ,orsa#en; 5T$ou shalt raise up t$e ,oundations o, 2any !enerationsA and t$ou s$alt %e called' T$e repairer o, t$e %reac$* T$e restorer of aths to d(ell in*5 *** T$is prop$ecy also applies in our time* T$e breach (as made in the la( o, 0od ($en t$e Sa%%at$ (as chan!ed %y the Ro2an po(er* "ut t$e time $as co2e for t$at divine institution to be restored. T$e %reac$ is to %e repaired and t$e ,oundation o, 2any !enerations to be raised up* Here 0e see the issue is the sa2eKthe controversy bet0een !ood and evil. Circu2stances are si2ilar. 8eo le rofessin! !reat ri!hteousness in IsaiahGs day 0ere Ptra2 lin! u on the divine rece ts.P But 0e have different conte7tsKthe He0ish nation and the Christian churchA a different ti2e fra2eKseventh century "*C* and t0entiethcentury A.$.A different actorsKthe He0ish eo le>Isaiah and the Christian church>GodGs re2nant eo le. A study of IsaiahGs ro hecy and its fulfill2ent 2ay be a lied to the e7 erience of GodGs re2nant eo le to hel the2 see their role as

%% Jhite" Sele!te$ )essages, "oo# *"..*. %* Jhite" The 'reat (ontroversy, (+%-+*.

.+.

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation

re airers of a si2ilar breach 2ade in the la0 of God in the Christian Era. Returnin! to Ellen JhiteGs state2ent about $aniel .." 0e see ho0 this rinci le can be a lied. P4he ro hecy in the eleventh Tcha terU of $aniel has nearly reached its co2 lete fulfill2ent. #uch of the history that has taken lace in fulfill2ent of this ro hecy 0ill be re eated.P %( Events in history have already fulfilled certain redictions in this cha ter. Ho0ever" si2ilar circu2stances 0ill a!ain develo at the close of the !reat controversy" and in this cos2ic stru!!le history 0ill be seen as re eatin! itself. Ellen Jhite does not su!!est that those ro hecies in $aniel .. that have already been fulfilled 0ill receive a second fulfill2ent. 5otice the various conte7ts" ro hetic and non ro hetic" 0ithin 0hich Ellen Jhite says history 0ill be re eated. Also notice she is not su!!estin! that a !iven ro hecy itself is to be re eated. 0reat empires o, Daniel9s prop$ecy* P8ro hecy has traced the rise and fall of the 0orldGs !reat e2 iresKBabylon" #edo-8ersia" Greece" and Ro2e. Jith each of these" as 0ith nations of less o0er" history repeate$ itsel". Each had its eriod of test" each failed" its !lory faded" its o0er de arted" and its lace 0as occu ied by another.P 4he ro hecies concernin! these nations of anti1uity 2et fulfill2ent. Si2ilar circu2stances have been seen in the history of other nations" !reat and s2all. Each has been tested" each has failed" each has lost its !lory and o0er" and each has been re laced by another. 4hus the history of Babylon" #edo-8ersia" Greece" and Ro2e has been re eated. But theprophe!y relatin! to these s ecific kin!do2s has been fulfilled only once. &ersecution o, 0od9s people* 58e are standin! on the threshold of !reat and sole2n events. #any of the ro hecies are about to be fulfilled in 1uick succession. Every ele2ent of o0er is about to be set to 0ork. 4ast history will be repeate$S old controversies 0ill arouse to ne0 life" and eril 0ill beset GodGs eo le on every side.G.%9 #ore s ecifically" P4he scenes of ersecution enacted durin! ChristGs life 0ill be enacted by false reli!ionists till the close of ti2e. #en think they have a ri!ht to take into their char!e the consciences of 2en" and 0ork out their theories of a ostasy and trans!ression. History will be repeate$.6<P 4he ro hecies that redicted the sufferin! of the #essiah have 2et their fulfill2ent. 4hey 0ill not be re eated" but the scenes of abuse that
%( Jhite" )anus!ript Releases 62;27:* %+ 8$ite' 2ducation, .::" e2 hasis added. %9 Ellen G. Jhite" &eview an$ *era%d, Au!ust *.".;':" e2 hasis added. %: Jhite" )anus!ript Releases 62;27:' emp$asis addedA id." The !ts o" the postles, ;(-;+.

.+%

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation

Christ suffered 0ill be re eated in the e7 eriences of His follo0ers" and thus history 0ill be re eated. Noa$' Sodo2 and 0omorra$* 6History will be repeate$. Christ declared that rior to His second co2in! the 0orld 0ould be as it 0as in the days of 5oah" 0hen 2en reached such a ass in follo0in! their o0n sinful i2a!ination that God destroyed the2 by a flood.G.%; And Bude says' 5Sodom and Go2orrah" and t$e cities a%out the2 in li#e manner' !ivin! t$emselves over to ,ornication' and !oin! after stran!e ,les$' are set ,ort$ ,or an e ample' su,,erin! the ven!eance o, eternal fire.P +ere is presented to us a state o, thin!s 0hich has been" and history wii% ,e repeated. 1ourt$ $orse ERev 9=:-;@. In Revelation 9 the fourth horse sy2boliNes the reli!ious intolerance and ersecution that e7isted in Euro e under the a al o0er. P4he sa2e s irit is seen today that is re resented in Revelation 9=9-;. History is to be repeate$. 4hat 0hich has been 0ill be a!ain.P*& 6nce 2ore" it is evident that the state2ent deals 0ith a re etition of history" not a second fulfill2ent of ro hecy. In each case the conte7t" the ti2e" and the actors are different. Ne%uc$adneFFar* PIt is a fearful thin! for any soul to lace hi2self on SatanGs side of the 1uestionA for as soon as he does this a chan!e asses over hi2" as it is said of the kin! of Babylon" that his visa!e chan!ed to0ard the three faithful Hebre0s. 4ast history will be repeate$. #en 0ill reLect the Holy S iritGs 0orkin!" and o en the door of the 2ind to satanic attributes that se arate the2 fro2 God.P*. T$us' Ellen Jhite does not s eak in ter2s of a !iven ro hecy receivin! a second fulfill2ent. 4hat 0ould necessitate the sa2e historical conte7t" t$e sa2e ti2e fra2e" and the sa2e actors. Ho0ever" she does s eak in terms of si2ilar circu2stances" but a different conte7t" ti2e fra2e" and actors. Jithin these si2ilar circu2stances the ori!inal historic events that once fulfilled ro hecy 0ill be re eated" such as the rise and fall of nations" ersecution" etc. Some misunderstood statements* Before leavin! this to ic there are t0o state2ents that should be noted. Both 2ay be easily 2isunderstood and the conclusion dra0n that Ellen Jhite advocates the idea that the fulA= Jhite" )anus!ript Releases .%=(.*" e2 hasis added* A7 Jhile" )anus!ript Releases .'=.&+" e2 hasis added. 2M Jhite" )anus!ript Releases '=:" e2 hasis added. 26 VEhite, )anus!ript Releases .'=.%%" e2 hasis added.

.+*

Ellen 0* 8$ite9s )se o, Daniel and Revelation fill2ent of an a ocaly tic ro hecy 2ay be re eated. She says" PSo2e ro hecies God has re eated....P 4he conte7t is not su!!estin! that so2e ro hecies 0ill have a 2ulti le fulfill2ent" but that so2e ro hecies !iven in $aniel are of such i2 ortance God sa0 fit to have Hohn restate the2 in his book. Both the ro hecy of $aniel and that of Revelation 0ill have only a sin!le fulfill2ent.*% 4hen there is the follo0in! 0ell-kno0n state2ent= T$e !reat (or# o, t$e !ospel is not to close (it$ less 2anifestation of t$e po(er o, 0od t$an mar#ed its openin!* T$e ro hecies ($ic$ (ere ,ul,illed in t$e outpourin! o, t$e ,ormer rain at the o enin! of t$e !os el are a!ain to %e ,ul,illed in t$e latter rain at its close.G It 0ould a ear at first !lance that here is a case 0here Ellen Jhite s eaks of a sin!le ro hecy havin! a dual fulfill2ent. Ho0ever" 0e 2ust re2e2ber that the ro hecies she cites in this assa!e that redict the for2er rain also redict a second event" the latter rain. In the conte7t Ellen Jhite 1uotes Hosea 9=*" Pand he shall co2e unto us as the rain" as the latter and for2er rain unto the earth"P and Hoel %=%*" Phe 0ill cause to co2e do0n for you the rain" the for2er rain" and the latter rain.P So HoseaGs and HoelGs sin!le state2ents look for0ard to t0o se arate events= the early and the latter rain endo02ents of the S irit u on the church.

Berusalem Statements
State2ents 2ade by Ellen Jhite concernin! the ro hecies of #atthe0 %( are 2ost fre1uently seiNed u on as roof for dual>2ulti le fulfill2ents or for future fulfill2ents of all ro hecy. Ho0ever" 0e 2ust kee the follo0in! in 2ind 0hen dealin! 0ith our IordGs a ocaly tic ro hecy= .. 4he discourse deals 0ith t0o 2aLor events" not Lust a sin!le event.
Hesus did not ans0er His disci les by takin! u se arately the destruction of Herusale2 and the !reat day of His co2in!. He 2in!led the descri tion of these t0o events. ... In 2ercy to the2 He blended the descri tion of the t0o !reat crises" leavin! the disci les to study out the 2eanin! for the2selves.

%. #atthe0 %( is a ro hetic chain.


3! Fhite, banuscript Releases 1: . 33 Fhite, The 4reat 3ontroversy, 611#12. 34 ite! The Desire of Ages2 62"h c/. @. 631.

.+(

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation In #atthe0 %(" in ans0er to the 1uestion of His disci les concernin! the si!n of His co2in! and of the end of the 0orld" Christ had ointed out so2e of the 2ost i2 ortant events in the history of the 0orld and of the church fro2 His first to His second adventA na2ely" the destruction of Herusale2" the !reat tribulation of the church under the a!an and a al ersecutions" the darkenin! of the sun and 2oon" and the fallin! of the stars. After this He s oke of +is co2in! in His kin!do2" and related the arable describin! the t0o classes of servants 0ho look for +is a earin!.*+

*. 4he fate of Herusale2 is a ro hetic ty e of the fate of the 0orld. P4he ruin of Herusale2 0as a symbol of the final ruin that shall over0hel2 the 0orld. 4he ro hecies that received a artial fulfill2ent in the overthro0 of Herusale2 have a 2ore direct a lication to the last day. 4hus" the fate of Herusale2 beco2es a ty e of future events. *: (. Iike $aniel" so2e of the ro hecies in #atthe0Gs ro hetic chain are taken u by Hohn and re eated in Revelation.
Said Hesus= P4he stars shall fall fro2 heaven.P #atthe0 %(=%'. And Hohn in the Revelation declared" as he beheld in vision the scenes that should herald the day of God= P4he stars of heaven fell unto the earth" even as a fi! tree casteth her unti2ely fi!s" 0hen she is shaken of a 2i!hty 0ind.P Revelation 9=.*. 4his ro hecy received a strikin! and i2 ressive fulfill2ent in the !reat 2eteoric sho0er of 5ove2ber .*".;**. 4he recedin! cate!ories su22ariNe Ellen JhiteGs state2ents on Besus` a ocaly tic ser2on. 4i2e and s ace 0ill not er2it an e7a2ination of each state2ent" but re resentative references are !iven above. T$ere is one statement t$at must %e e7a2ined" ho0ever" %ecause it $as %een used as proo, ,or multiple fulfill2ent. In t$e ro hecy o, Berusalem9s destruction Christ said" 5"ecause iniIuity s$all abound" t$e love o, many s$all (a cold. But he that s$all endure unto t$e end' the same s$all %e saved* And this !os el of the #in!dom shall be preac$ed in all t$e (orld ,or a 0itness unto all nationsA and t$en shall t$e end come*5 T$is prop$ecy (ill a!ain be fulfilled. 4he a%oundin! iniI3G .llen G. ite! The 2reat 3ontroversy, 3.3h c/. id.! The Story of Rede+ption 'a0 inJton! DC! 1.47]! 32$. 36 .llen D. ite! Thou0hts cro+ the bount of Blessin0 "bountain Viev! CA!n.d.]! 12$#21! em@ a0i0 added. 37 38. ite! The 2reat 3ontroversy, 25#26! 351h id#. Testi+onies to binisters, 232. 3 ite! The 2reat 3ontroversy, 333. .++

Ellen 0* JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation


uity of that day finds its counter art in this !eneration. So 0ith the rediction in re!ard to the reachin! of the !os el.

4he follo0in! are to be noted= ?.@ Ellen JhiteGs state2ent takes into account that this is a t0o- art ro hecy dealin! 0ith events surroundin! the fall of Herusale2 and the end of the 0orld. ?%@ 4he fate of Herusale2 is a ro hetic-ty e of 0hat a0aits the 0orld" as can be seen in the 0ords" PIn the ro hecy of Herusale2Gs destruction.... 4he aboundin! ini1uity of that day finds its counter art in this !eneration.P ?*@ 4he ro hetic-ty e is a lied to the loss of love and the reachin! of the !os el. 40o se arate and distinct ro hecies are bein! addressed. 4he first is not to have a dual or 2ulti le fulfill2ent. For the te2 le 0ould have to be reconstructed and the city fall a second ti2e. 4he fulfill2ent of the first art of this ro hecy 0as a once-for-all event. 4his ro hetic fulfill2ent" ho0ever" 0as itself an e7a2 le of the 2ore e7tensive events that 0ill fulfill the second art of the ro hecy.(&

5one7 ositional /ses of 8ro hetic Ian!ua!e


Ellen Jhite used assa!es fro2 $aniel and Revelation 2uch as she used other ortions of Scri ture. Several e7a2 les follo0. $escri tive 8ur oses T$is can %e seen clearly in The Great (ontroversy ($ere she descri%es t$e Second Advent.(. Verses and parts of verses are (oven ,reely into $er descriptive account' producin! a ,lo(in! narrative of the event* As s$e descri%es t$e ,inal' 5desperate stru!!leP bet0een t$e po(ers o, !ood and evil" she says" T$e o0er of t$e +oly 0$ost must %e u on us" and t$e Captain o, the Lord9s $ost (ill stand at t$e $ead o, the an!els of heaven to direct t$e %attle* Solemn events %e,ore us are yet to trans ire. 4ru2 et a,ter trumpet is to %e sounded' vial a,ter vial poured out one after anot$er upon t$e in$a%itants o, the eart$*
*' 8$ite' The &esire o" ges, 9**. (& T$e conte7t su!!ests that Ellen Jhite is dealin! 0ith a re etition of history ratherthan a re etition of the s ecific ro hecy ertainin! to Herusale2. End-ti2e ini1uity and the 0orld0ide reachin! of the !os el are foretold by other 54 ro hecies ?cf. % 4i2 *=.-+A Rev .(=9@. K Ed. (. &p* 9*+-+%. (% Ellen G. Jhite Co22ents" The S"' Bible (ommentary :=';%.

.+9

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation

6bviously the reference to the tru2 ets is not an atte2 t to inter ret their 2eanin!" nor to tie the2 to the seven last la!ues. Her intent" rather" is to i2 ress the reader 0ith the 2a!nitude and the devastatin! conse1uences of the closin! stru!!le. Jhile describin! the end-ti2e trials and victories of GodGs eo le" she (eaves in Revelation .(=.. Jhile Satan 0as ur!in! his accusations and seekin! to destroy this co2 any" holy an!els" unseen" 0ere assin! to and fro" lacin! u on the2 the seal of the livin! God. 4hese are they that stand u on #ount <ion 0ith the Ia2b" havin! the FatherGs na2e 0ritten in their foreheads. 4hey sin! the ne0 son! before the throne" that son! 0hich no 2an can lea2 save the hundred and forty and four thousand. Ellen Jhite is not 0ritin! a discourse on the .(("&&&" nor is she attemptin! to identify the2. She si2 ly uses Revelation .(=. for descri tive ur oses and then fills out the scene by 1uotin! Revelation directly= 5T$ese are t$ey ($ic$ ,ollo( t$e Lam% 0hithersoever he !oeth"P etc* Illustrative &urposes T$is e7a2 le is so2e0hat si2ilar to the above. Ho0ever" 0here Ellen Jhite uses assa!es to enhance her descri tion in the revious e7a2 le" here she uses short sentences fro2 $aniel and Revelation to illustrate 0hat s$e has Hust said. For e7a2 le" she reinforces her state2ent that a ,e( u on earth re2ain true to God by 1uotin! Revelation .(=.%" P5ot all in this 0orld have taken sides 0ith the ene2y a!ainst God. 5ot all have beco2e disloyal. 4here are a faithful fe0 0ho are true to GodA for Hohn 0rites= +ere are they that kee the co22and2ents of God" and the faith of Hesus.G Revelation .(=.%.P(( A!ain" as she describes the sho0ers of !race that 0ill co2e in the latter rain' she uses Revelation .;=. to illustrate 0hat she had Lust resented. Je 2ust not 0ait for the latter rain. It is co2in! u on all 0ho 0ill reco!niNe and a ro riate the de0 and sho0ers of !race that fall u on us. Jhen 0e !ather u the fra!2ents of li!ht" 0hen 0e a reciate the sure 2ercies of God" 0ho loves to have us trust Hi2" then every ro2ise 0ill be fulfilled.... 4he 0hole earth is to be filled 0ith the !lory of God.(+
:2 8$ite' Testimonies +=(:+-:9. :: 8$ite* Testimonies '=.+. :3 Ellen 0* Jhite Co22ents" The S"' Bible (ommentary :=';(. .+:

Ellen 0* 8$ite9s )se o, Daniel and Revelation Incorporation o, Lan!ua!e Time and a!ain Ellen 8$ite (ill incor orate the lan!ua!e of Daniel and Revelation into $er description o, a scene !iven $er by t$e Lord' or into $er narrative o, a %i%lical event* T$is is si2ilar to the e ample cited a%ove in ($ic$ s$e uses Scripture or scri tural lan!ua!e to describe a scene* +ere' $o(ever' (e note s$e o,ten incor orates scriptural lan!ua!e into $er o(n use o, (ords* 8e cite' ,or an e7a2 le" a vie0 of the investi!ative Gud!ment !iven to $er on Octo%er %*".;:'.(9 T$rou!$out $er account s$e incorporates the lan!ua!e of $aniel and Revelation* &$rases used include; 5ten thousand ti2es ten thousand"P 5several %oo#s (ere %e,ore +im'5 5anot$er book 0as o ened"P 5you are (ei!$ed in t$e balances and ,ound 0antin!"P PJhy have you not (as$ed your ro%es o, c$aracter and made t$em ($ite in the blood o, t$e Lam%C5 5+e t$at is unGust let $im %e unGust still'5 etc. In The Great Controversy volume Ellen 8$ite !ives a description of Ada2 and his descendants bein! us$ered into t$e +oly City. A!ain (e can see ho0 she incorporates the lan!ua!e o, Daniel and Revelation into $er o0n lan!ua!e.(: E pansion On occasion Ellen 8$ite' $avin! cited a assa!e" 0ill e7 and upon it. 1or e ample' s$e Iuotes Revelation 3;66' 5I beheld" and I $eard t$e voice o, many an!els round a%out t$e t$rone*5 S$e then elaborates upon t$e citation %y descri%in! $o( t$e an!els unite 0ith Hesus in the (or# o, ministerin! to t$ose ($o are to receive t$e seal o, 0od* She tells $o( an!els are a restrainin! po(er to the ,orces o, evil' $o( they beV y the earth re,usin! Satan $is claim over 0od9s people' and $o( they are the 2inisters o, Be$ova$* Sometimes Ellen 8$ite %e!ins a c$apter by 1uotin! a assa!e o, ScriptureJ ,or e ample' s$e %e!ins c$apter 2= of The 'reat (ontroversy ?P4he 1inal 8arnin!5H %y citin! Revelation .;=."%"(. 4he cha ter t$en beco2es an e pansion o, t$is passa!e* Immediately follo0in! the 1uote are several lines o, interpretation* T$is scripture points ,or(ard to a ti2e 0hen the announce2ent o, t$e ,all o, "a%ylon' as made %y t$e second an!el of Revelation .( ?verse =H' is to %e repeated' (it$ t$e additional mention of the corru tions ($ic$
56 Fhite, Testi+onies 4H3"4#"7. 47 ite! The 2reat 3ontroversy, 64"#4.. H +llen D. Fhite Comment0! The SDA Bible 3o++entary 7H.67. .+;

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation


$ave been enterin! t$e various or!aniNations that constitute "a%ylon' since t$at 2essa!e (as ,irst !iven' in t$e su22er of .;((.

T$is s$ort interpretation is t$en ,ollo(ed %y t$e descri tive e pansion in t$e remainder o, t$e c$apter' PA terrible condition of the reli!ious (orld is $ere descri%ed*5

Didactic )se
Spiritual teac$in! is stren!t$ened %y the use of assa!es ,rom Daniel and Revelation* 1or e ample' a,ter 1uotin! $aniel .%=6" Ellen 8$ite deals (it$ t$e sealin! and t$e close o, pro%ation 0hile 0orkin! in t$e counsel o, t$e True 8itness ,rom Revelation *=.;.+& In the course of interpretin! t$e para%le' t$e man (it$out a (eddin! !ar2ent" she uses Revelation %%=.% to teac$ t$at t$e c$aracter o, every 2anGs 0ork 0ill be determined before Besus returns Pto !ive every man accordin! as his 0ork shall be.P+.

&astoral Advice
6ften Ellen Jhite sho0s a astoral concern for GodGs eo le. Scri ture is freely used" includin! $aniel and Revelation" in these assa!es of astoral ad2onitions. $aniel ;=.( for2s the basis of a astoral a eal to %e ready for the sole2n ti2e of Lud!2ent. 8$at is our condition in t$is ,ear,ul and sole2n ti2eS . ** S$all (e not searc$ t$e Scriptures' t$at (e may #no( 0here 0e are in t$is (orld9s $istoryC S$all (e not %ecome intelli!ent in re!ard to the (or# t$at is %ein! accomplis$ed ,or us at t$is time' and t$e osition that 0e as sinners s$ould occupy ($ile this (or# o, atonement is !oin! for0ardS I, 0e $ave any re!ard ,or our souls9 salvation' (e must ma#e a decided chan!e. Je 2ust see# t$e Lord (it$ true penitenceJ 0e 2ust 0ith dee contrition of soul con,ess our sins" t$at t$ey may %e %lotted out. E amples si2ilar to t$is a%ound in Ellen JhiteGs 0ritin!s.

E tended /se
4he e7tended use of scri ture is seen fre1uently in the 54 and in the 0ritin!s of Ellen Jhite. 4his occurs 0hen an ins ired 0riter !ives a 2eanin! to a assa!e that is beyond 0hat the ori!inal 0riter intended. For e7:7 8$ite' The 'reat (ontroversy, 9&*. 3M Jhite" Testimonies +=%.%-.+. 36 Blen G. Jhite" (hrist+s DbAe!t Jessons ?Jashin!ton" $C" .'(.@" *.&. 3A Jhite" Sele!te$ )essages, "oo# .".%+.

.+'

Ellen G. JhiteGs /se of $aniel and Revelation

a2 le" Ellen Jhite 0rites" P4he 2in!lin! of churchcraft and statecraft is re resented by the iron and the clay"P a state2ent based on 5ebuchadneNNarGs vision of the 2etallic i2a!e ?$an %=(*@. 4his 2oves beyond si2 le inter retation based u on conte7t" 0ords" synta7" etc. Here an ins ired 0riter !ives a ne0 2eanin! to a fa2iliar assa!e" 2uch as 8aul does in Galatians *=.9" 0ith Genesis %%=.;. Another e7a2 le 2ay be seen in 0hich Ellen Jhite e7tends Revelation .=: ?a reference to the Second Advent@ to the end of the 2illenniu2. P4hen at the close of the one thousand years" Hesus" 0ith the an!els and all the saints" leaves the Holy City" and 0hile He is descendin! to the earth 0ith the2" the 0icked dead are raised" and then the very 2en that G ierced Hi2> bein! raised" 0ill see Hi2 afar off in all His !lory" and the an!els and saints 0ith Hi2" and 0ill 0ail because of Hi2.P+ zu E positor So2e are reluctant to say that Ellen Jhite e7e!etes Scri ture. It is true that she did not 0ork as an e7e!ete 0ould todayKdoin! 0ord studies and e7a2inin! in detail the synta7 of assa!es in the ori!inal lan!ua!es" etc. Ho0ever" there is no 1uestion that she is an inter reter of Scri ture" includin! the ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation. As (e noted earlier" the basic ro hecies had been studied and e7 lained by the ioneers of the Advent 2ove2ent under the !uidance of the Holy S irit. 4hese interretations are endorsed by Ellen Jhite in her o0n resentation of these subLects" for e7a2 le" in The 'reat (ontroversy. Ho0ever" Ellen Jhite builds u on the 0ork of the ioneers by fleshin! out their earlier 0ork 0ith e7tensive inter retative details. 4his 0ork of inter retation can be seen in the additional details dealin! 0ith ?.@ the role of evil su ernatural forces in the closin! conflict" ++ ?%@ es ecially" the descri tion of SatanGs atte2 t to i2 ersonate Hesus" +9 ?*@ the threefold union bet0een 8rotestantis2" Catholicis2" and s iritualis2" +: ?(@ conditions u on 0hich the 2ark of the beast 0ill be received" +; etc. Here are only a fe0 e7a2 les of 2any that sho0 Ellen Jhite at0ork as an inter reter of ro hecy.
+* Ellen G. Jhite Co22ents" The S& Bible (ommentary (=..9;-9'. +( Ellen G. Jhite" Ear"y -ritings ?Jashin!ton" $C" .'(+@" +*. ++ Jhite" The 'reat (ontroversy, ('%-+9%. +9 Ibid-" 9%(. +: Ibid." +;;. +; Ibid." 9&(-+.

.9&

Ellen 0* JhiteGs )se of Daniel and Revelation

Conclusions
As a result o, t$is study (e 2ay dra( the follo0in! conclusions* .. Ellen Jhite endorses the historicist a roach to inter retin! ro hecy. 4his 2ethod of ro hetic inter retation 0as used by the ioneers in the for2ative years of our church. %. Althou!h Ellen Jhite did not use the ter2 Phistoricist"P it is clear that she understood this a roach to ro hecy to be the only correct 2ethod for its inter retation. *. Ellen Jhite counsels that there is a very real dan!er in lookin! to the future for all ro hetic fulfill2ent. :* Events similar to those t$at ,ul,illed a !iven prop$ecy may arise* T$us' history is repeated.not t$e fulfill2ent of the prop$ecy* I, t$e prop$ecy (ere to be ,ul,illed a!ain it 0ould re1uire the same $istorical conte t' the same time fra2e" and the sa2e actors. +. Jhen dealin! 0ith Ellen JhiteGs state2ents on HesusG a ocaly tic discourse recorded in the Syno tic Gos els" it 2ust be re2e2bered that this discourse ?.@ centers around t0o 2aLor redictionsKthe destruction of Herusale2 and the end of the 0orldA ?%@ but yet is a ro hetic chainA and ?*@ resents the fate of Herusale2 as a ro hecy of the fate of the 0orld" yet both events are se arate and distinct. 6* Apart fro2 her strai!$t,or(ard e7 ositions of the prop$ecies alon! $istoricist lines" Ellen 8$ite at times e2 loyed their hraseolo!y and ima!ery in a nontechnical" astoral 2anner.

.9.

3hapter IJ

T$e Interpreter9s )se o, t$e 8ritin!s o, Ellen 0* 8$ite


Hon 8aulien
Editorial Synopsis* Iike the a ostle Hohn" Ellen G. Jhite 0as stee ed { the lan!ua!e of the Scri tures. Althou!h she and her ioneer associates believed that the Holy S irit had besto0ed u on her the ro hetic !ift" she al0ays reco!niNed and ackno0led!ed the authority of the Holy Scri tures ?the 6ld and 5e0 4esta2ents@ as the ulti2ate rule for faith and ractice. She 0rote= In +is 0ord" 0od $as co22itted to 2en the kno0led!e necessary for salvation. 4he +oty Scri tures are to be acce ted as an authoritative" infallible revelation of +is 0ill. T$ey are t$e standard of character" the revealer of doctrines" and the test o, e7 erience. >The Great (ontroversy T#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'+&U" vii.@ Ellen Jhite sa0 her articular role" under the S irit" to be that of clarifyin! and a lyin! Bible truths and rinci les to believersB lives and for0ardin! the 2ission of the church. I reco22end to you" dear reader" the Jord of God as the rule of your faith and ractice. By that Jard 0e are to be Lud!ed. God has" in that Jord" ro2ised to !ive visions in the last $ays+S not for a ne0 rule of faith" but for the co2fort of His eo le" and to correct those 0ho err fro2 Bibte truth. >Earty -ritings TJashin!ton" $C" .'(+U" :;" e2 hasis in ori!inal.@ Iike a astor" Ellen Jhite e2 loys the Scri tures in several different 0ays. So2eti2es" she resents a strai!htfor0ard e7 osition" as 2ay be seen in such 0orks as Thoughts Rrom the )ount o" Blessing ?ChristGs 2aLor recorded ser2on@ and (hrist+s DbAe!t Jessons ?Chrisfs arables@. At other ti2es she ada ts the hraseolo!y of the Scri tures so as to ortray their lar!er theolo!ical icture or to a ly their teachin!s in a ho2iletical 2anner. Such usa!e of biblical hrasin! 2ay e7 ress a universal truth" althou!h it 2ay not har2oniNe 0ith the conte7t fro2 0hich the hraseolo!y 0as a ro riated. .9*

4he Inter reterGs )se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite


Because of this varied ?but ro er@ use of Scri ture" the student is faced at ti2es 0ith a certain a2bi!uity in Ellen JhiteGs citation of Bible assa!es. 4he overall 2essa!e 0ill be clearA the intent" lain. But the roble2 arises 0hen the student desires to kno0 if the cited te7t of Scri ture is bein! used and e7 lained in its conte7t" or 0hether its hraseolo!y has been borro0ed to e7 ress so2ethin! other than 0hat it 2eans in its ri2ary settin!. In this cha ter the author su!!ests funda2ental !round rules for the student to e2 loy 0hen faced 0ith such an a2bi!uity" lest he 2isunderstand the intent of an Ellen Jhite state2ent" the Scri ture assa!e e2 loyed K or both. Ri!htly used" the 0ritin!s of Ellen Jhite continue to shed i2 ortant li!ht on both the teachin!s and ro hecies of Holy Scri ture.

C$apter Outline
I. Introduction II* Basic 8rinci les III* &rinciples Illustrated IV* Conclusion

Introduction
dventist interpreters o, Revelation s$are a deep a reciation for A dven 7) t$e (ritin!s o, Ellen 0* 8$ite* +er co22ents on t$e book of thei 78 Bievelation stimulate muc$ productive insi!ht" particularly to t$e *KReve 5%i! picture5J na2ely" $o( t$e sym%olic visions of Revelation contri%ute to the cosmic perspective o, t$e 5!reat controversy.P She (as (ell a(are t$at Revelation %rin!s to!et$er lan!ua!e' ideas' and types fro2 throu!hout Scripture' ,ormin! a consummate conclusion to the "i%le as a 0hole.. T$us' Adventist sc$olars$ip (ould be re2iss to i!nore her ers ective on t$e sym%ols and t$eolo!y o, t$e %oo# o, Revelation* +avin! said t$is' (e 2ust also remind inter reters that t$e 0ritin!s o, Ellen 8$ite can %e misused in suc$ a (ay as to obscure t$e meanin! o, t$e %i%lical te7t and ma#e it serve t$e a!enda o, t$e inter reter.% O,,$and com. PIn the Revelation all the books of t$e "i%le 2eet and end. Here is the co2 le2ent of the book of $anielP >The !ts o" the postles NMountain Vie(' CA' .'..U" +;+@. % P4hose 0ho are not 0alkin! in t$e li!ht of the messa!e 2ay !ather u state2ents fro2 2y 0ritin!s that ha en to lease the2" and that a!ree 0ith their hu2an Lud!2ent" and by se aratin! these state2ents fro2 their connection and lacin! the2 beside hu2an reasonin!s" 2ake it a ear

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T$e Interpreter9s )se o, t$e Jritin!s of Ellen 0* 8$ite 2ents in various conte7ts can be universaliNed or a lied in 0ays that run counter to the i2 lications of the biblical te7t itself. Such use is really abuse and results in di2inishin! her authority rather than enhancin! it.( Inspiration is truly $andled (it$ respect 0hen the intention o, an inspired (riter is permitted to emer!e ,rom the te t in its ori!inal conte t Ee e!esisH* 8e must avoid readin! into a assa!e our o(n interests and presuppositions ?eise!esis@. Messa!es ,rom livin! ro hets could be clarified upon reIuest* "ut since t$is is no lon!er possi%le' (e are on safest !round ($en t$e intent o, t$e (ritten messa!e is allo0ed to surface by means o, care,ul e e!esis* T$e desire to esta%lis$ a particular position o,,ers no license to do (it$ t$e te t ($atever t$e inter reter (ants-Interpreters 0ith stron! preconceived ideas so2eti2es utiliFe Ellen 8$ite9s scri tural Iuotations in suc$ a (ay as to overthro0 the lain meanin! o, t$e te t in its %i%lical settin!*6 In,erences dra(n ,rom the te7t of Revelation are at times creatively com%ined 0ith in,erences dra(n fro2
that 2y 0ritin!s u hold that 0hich they conde2nP ?Ellen G. Jhite" Ietter %&;".'&9@. 2 T$e fact that Ellen Jhite called for $aniel and Revelation to be ublished to!ether without !omment indicates the i2 ortance she attached to careful te7tual study and co2 arison. Cf. Ellen 0* Jhite" Testimonies to )inisters ?#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'9%@" ..:. ( A co2 anion study on the use and abuse of Ellen JhiteGs reflections on $aniel and Revelation is ublished by the Biblical Research Institute ?General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists@ in a a2 hlet entitled PEllen 0* 8$ite and the Inter retation of $aniel and Revelation.P + P#any fro2 a2on! our o0n eo le are 0ritin! to 2e" askin! 0ith earnest deter2ination the rivile!e o, usin! 2y 0ritin!s to !ive ,orce to certain subLects 0hich they 0ish to resent to the eo le in such a 0ay as to leave a dee i2 ression u on the2. PIt is true that there is a reason 0hy so2e of these 2atters should be resentedA but I 0ould not venture to !ive 2y a roval in usin! the testi2onies in this 0ay" or to sanction the lacin! of 2atter 0hich is !ood in itself in the 0ay 0hich they ro ose. P4he ersons 0ho 2ake these ro ositions" for au!ht I kno0" 2ay be able to conduct the enterprise of 0hich they0rite in a (ise 2annerA but nevertheless I dare not !ive the least license for usin! 2y 0ritin!s in the 2anner0hich they ro ose. In takin! account of such an enter rise" t$ere are 2any thin!s that 2ust come into considerationA for in usin! the testi2onies to bolster u so2e subLect 0hich 2ay i2 ress t$e 2ind of the author" the e7tracts 2ay !ive .a different i2 ression than that0hich they 0ould 0ere they read in theirori!inal connectionP ?P4he Jritin! and Sendin! 6ut of the 4esti2onies to t$e Church"P %+-%9" 1uoted in Sele!te$ )essages, Book . TJashin!ton" DC' .'+;U" +;A also in Arthur Jhite" Ellen '. -hite, )essenger to the Remnant, 67. 6 8$en s$e a lied the hrase Ptouch not" taste not" handle notP to the use of tea" coffee" alcohol" and tobacco >The )inistry o" Healing T#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'(%U" **+@" she 0as echoin! the lan!ua!e of Col %=%." but certainly not in the 2anner in 0hich 8aul used itV For her the hrase $ad a ositive use in relation to a proper abstention fro2 har2ful substances" for 8aul the hrase" in conte7t" re resented an unhealthy asceticis2 that diverted attention fro2 Christ ?Col %=.;-%*@. Jhen she a lied the hrase PGod 2ade 2an u ri!htP to the need for !ood osture >E$u!ation T#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'+%U" .';@" she never intended to i2 ly that the author of Ecclesiastes 0as discussin! osture in Ecci :=%:-%'. In 4atriar!hs an$ 4rophets ?#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'+;@" ('" she used the hrase in har2ony 0ith the 2oral intention of the biblical author.

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4he Inter reterGs /se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite the S irit of 8ro hecy to roduce a result that cannot be de2onstrated by either a natural readin! of Revelation or of the 0ritin!s of Ellen Jhite. 4hou!h usually 0ell-intentioned" such sidetracks divert our readers> hearers fro2 the lain 2eanin! of the te7t and encoura!e careless 2ethods of inter retation that can da2a!e the cause of God. Jith the !oal of safe!uardin! her ins ired intention" (e su!!est no0 so2e tentative !uidelines for the use of Ellen Jhite in the study of Revelation.

"asic &rinciples
Citation or echoS It is i2 ortant to deter2ine 0hether Ellen Jhite is intendin! to cite a articular biblical te7t or is 2erely Pechoin!P it. 4he sa2e rocedure 0e a ly to RevelationGs allusions to the 64 0ould be hel ful here as 0ell. Jhen she si2 ly echoes a te7t" she is not e7 ressin! a Lud!2ent on the biblical 0riterGs intention for the use of that te7t. She 2ay be dra0in! a valid s iritual lesson 0hen she echoes Scri ture" but it is not necessarily the sa2e lesson the biblical 0riter sou!ht to i2 ress u on his readers in the ori!inal settin!. /se= e7e!esis" theolo!y" or $omilyC Jhen Ellen Jhite clearly refers the reader to a scri tural assa!e" the reader should ask ho0 she is usin! the assa!e. Is she usin! it e7e!eticallyK2akin! a state2ent about the 2eanin! of the assa!e in the authorGs conte7tS Is she usin! it theolo!icallyKdiscussin! the i2 lication that the assa!e has for a lar!er theolo!y based on Scri ture as a 0holeS Is she usin! it ho2ileticallyKenLoyin! the effectiveness of the biblical lan!ua!e that 2oves eo le to action in a 0orshi settin!S; To interpret a ho2iletical usa!e as thou!h it (ere an e7e!etical state2ent (ill distort not only $er intention in its use %ut t$e 2eanin! of t$e %i%lical statement as (ell* Jhile more study needs to be done on t$is Iuestion' it is 2y opinion that Ellen 8$ite rarely uses Scri ture e7e!etically
: An e7a2 le of such Phybrid theolo!yP can be found in the book 'ive 'lory to Him by Robert Hauser ?+.+ 8ine Hill Rd*' An!0in" CA' .';*@" *&-*%. By co2 arin! state2ents fro2 the Bible and Ellen Jhite the author seeks to de2onstrate that Rev (=.-+=9 takes lace in the holy lace of t$e heavenly sanctuary" that +=;-.( takes lace in the #ost Holy 8lace" and that in Rev +=: Besus 2oves fro2 the holy lace into the #ost Holy 8lace. As brilliant as this su!!estion is" it is rendered e7tre2ely unlikely by the si2 le fact that no such 2ove2ent bet0een a art2ents is detectable in the te7t of Rev (-+ itself" and Ellen Jhite no0here describes such a 2ove2ent in terms of Rev +. 4he authorGs su!!estion transcends the intention of both Hohn and Ellen Jhile. 4hus" Ellen JhiteGs use of Scri ture is 2isused in order lo de2onstrate so2ethin! neither she nor Hohn the revelator intended. ; See t$e above illustration fro2 her use of Col %=%..

.99

4he Inter reterGs )se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite

?that is" e7 oundin! the biblical 0riterGs intent@. ' As 0as the case 0ith the classical ro hets of the DT, her 2ain concern is to s eak to her conte2orary situation. 4his 0ill !enerally cause her to use Scri ture theolo!ically and ho2iletically rather than e7e!etically. iv say this" is not to li2it Ellen JhiteGs authority. Her intention in a !iven state2ent should be taken 0ith ut2ost seriousness. At the sa2e ti2e 0e 2ust be careful not to li2it the authority of the Bible 0riter. Je ou!ht not to deny the Bible 0riterGs ri2ary 2eanin! on the basis of a ho2iletical usa!e of his assa!e. Jhat I a2 leadin! for here is that 0e res ect Ellen JhiteGs o0n intention in her handlin! of biblical 2aterial. Since she often uses Scri ture in other than e7e!etical 0ays" state2ents 1uotin! Revelation 2ust be e7a2ined 0ith !reat care before bein! a lied do!2atically in the e7e!esis of the book-Consistent intentionC Ellen Jhite herself 2akes a distinction bet0een her ublished 0ritin!s and other 2aterial... 4hus" 0e can best understand her theolo!ical intention in the 0ritin!s that 0ere 2ost carefully 0ritten and edited by her. 6ffhand co22ents in letters or steno!ra hically re roduced fro2 ser2ons 2ay not reflect her settled o inion on ti2eless issues. Co2 ilations of her 0ritin!s asse2bled by astors or laity need to be used even 2ore cautiously" since the orderin! of 2aterial can" in itself" 2ake a theolo!ical state2ent. If so2ethin! is found only in letters and 2anuscri ts" articularly if it occurs only once" the inter reter needs to deter2ine that it is a true reflection of her considered and consistent intent. Central to ar!umentC 4he 1uestion should be asked" Is Ellen JhiteGs use of a !iven scri ture te7t critical to the conclusion she co2es to in a !iven ortion of her 0ritin!sS If her use is eri heral to her central the2e"
' A hi!h ercenta!e of her e7e!etical state2ents are robably found in the book The !ts o" the postles 0hich contains s ecific discussions of NT books in their ori!inal settin!A also (hrist+s DbAe!t Jessons ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'(.@ and Thoughts "rom the )ount o" Blessing ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' n.d.@. See also Ro%ert 8* Olson and David C* Ha2es" P6lson Discusses the 3elt2an Study"P )inistry, $ece2ber .''&".:. .& Jhere she a ears to use a te7t e7e!etically" yet a tension re2ains bet0een her use of a te7t and the a arent intent of the authorGs lan!ua!e" t0o ossibilities should be ke t in 2ind. ?.@ It is ossible that the inter reter has 2isunderstood the intent of either the biblical 0riter or Ellen Jhite" or both. ?%@ An ins ired erson can a ly a biblical assa!e to his conte2 orary situation in a local sense 0ithout e7haustin! the ulti2ate intention of the ori!inal 0riter. ?5ote 8eterGs use of Hoel %=%;-*% in Acts %=.9-%. and HesusG use of $an :=.*-.( in #att '=9.@ 66 PAnd no0 to all 0ho have a desire ,or troth I 0ould say= $o not !ive credence to unauthenticated re orts as lo 0hat Sister Jhite has done or said or 0ritten. If you desire to kno0 0hat the Iord has revealed throu!h her" read her ublished 0orks. Are there any oints of interest concernin! 0hich she has not 0ritten" do not ea!erly catch u and re ort ru2ors as to 0hat she has saidP ?Ellen G. Jhite" Testimonies T#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'(;U" +=9'9A cf. id." Sele!te$ )essages, Book 6'99A id-" Testimonies to )inisters, **.

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4he Inter reterGs /se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite it 2ay not artake of a thou!ht-out e7e!esis. As is the case 0ith Scri ture" 0e are on safest !round 0hen 0e refer to assa!es in 0hich the s ecific to ic 0e are concerned 0ith is bein! discussed. Since 2uch of Revelation is never 2ade central to any of her discussions" 0e 2ust e7ercise caution in dra0in! fir2 conclusions fro2 eri heral uses of Revelation in such discussions.ILater clarificationS Ellen JhiteGs later 0ritin!s should be allo0ed to clarify ositions taken in earlier 0ritin!s. As her skills as a 0riter increased" her ability to e7 ress accurately and clearly the thou!hts she received fro2 God corres ondin!ly increased. And as earlier state2ents 0ere o osed or beca2e subLect to controversy" she 0ould offer clarifyin! state2ents to 2ake her intention clear. A 0ell-kno0n e7a2 le of this is found in Early -ritings, a!es ;+-'9" 0here she offers a series of clarifications of earlier state2ents and visionary descri tions..* 1reIuency o, conce t Ho0 often did she utiliNe a scri tural assa!e in a articular 0ayS Generally s eakin!" the nu2ber of ti2es a s ecific conce t is re eated is in direct ro ortion to the 0riterGs burden that the conce t be clearly understood by the readin! ublic. It is not a safe rocedure to base an inter retation on a sin!le assa!e. An idea that is re eated in a variety of circu2stances and by different e7 ressions is not easily 2isunderstood or 2isused. &ro%lem o, am%i!uity* 4he 2ain reason for su!!estin! these basic !uidelines in deter2inin! her intent is the roble2 of a2bi!uity in Ellen JhiteGs 0ritin!s. Her state2ents are at ti2es susce tible of 2ore than one inter retation. .( 4his is not due to confusion or lack of clarity on her art
6A Revelation is central to hcrdiscussion in c$ap* +: of The !ts o" the postles ?+:;-+'%@ and to 2uch o, the latter art of t$e book The Great Controversy ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'+&@. .* A t$eolo!ical e ample o, her 2aturin! clarity o, e7 ression is her understandin! of the deity of Christ. 5o one can 2istake her clear belief in the full divinity of Christ as e pressed in later statements such as Sele!te$ )essages, "oo# ." %'9A The &esire o" ges ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'(&@" +*&A Review an$ Heral$, April +".'&9A and Si""is o" the Times, #ay *".;''. "ut rc-.;;; state2ents such as The Spirit of Prophecy ?Jashin!ton" $C" .;:&@" .=.:-.;" are a2bi!uous enou!$ to be read as Arian i, t$e later statements are i!nored. ?She u dates and clarifies The Spirit o" 4rophe!y .=.:-.;" in Patriarchs and Prophets, *:-*;.@ To dra( her vie( fro2 The Spirit of Prophecy .=.:-.;" 0hile i!norin! the later clarifyin! state2ents is to ho elessly distort $er intention* .( An e7a2 le of an a2bi!uous statement is found in Testimonies to )inisters, ((+. She states t$ere t$at Pthis sealin! of the servants o, 0od is t$e same that 0as sho0n to ENekiel in vision. Hohn also bad been a 0itness of t$is most startlin! revelation.P She follo0s 0ith a nu2ber of ite2s that are co22on to both %oo#s* Since the visions of Hohn and EFe#iel are analo!ous" but certainly not identical" t0o ossibilities o, interpretation e2er!e. ?.@ 4he events of around 9&& "*C artook of the sa2e rinci les t$at (ill 2anifest the2selves in t$e final crisis ortrayed in Rev :. ?%@ ENekiel describes not t$e events of 9&& B.C. but the end-ti2e. Jhile one or the

.9;

4he Inter reterGs /se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite necessarilyA it is due to the fact that she often did not address the 1uestions directly that concern us 2ost today. /nbiased readers 2ay find state2ents that ans0er our concerns 0ith less clarity than 0e 0ould refer. 4he biased reader" ho0ever" 0hen confronted 0ith an a2bi!uous state2ent" icks the o tion that best fits his reconceived ideas and ha22ers it ho2e to those 0ho 2i!ht disa!ree. T$e reality is that 2any e7e!etical 1uestions cannot be clarified fro2 the Ellen Jhite 0ritin!s. 4he 0isest course is to avoid usin! a2bi!uous state2ents as definitive evidence to rove a oint. It is al0ays a ro riate" of course to oint out the ossibilities inherent in such state2ents.

&rinciples Illustrated
To illustrate t$e use o, t$ese si rinci les it 2ay be hel ful to e amine t$e statement in 2ar%y Writin$s.lI An an!el 0ith a 0riterGs inkhorn by his side returned fro2 the earth and re orted to Hesus that his 0ork 0as done" and the saints 0ere nu2bered and sealed. 4hen I sa0 Hesus" 0ho had been 2inisterin! before the ark containin! the ten co22and2ents" thro0 do0n the censer. +e raised His hands" and 0ith a loud voice said" 6It is $one.6 And all the an!elic host laid off their cro0ns as Hesus 2ade the sole2n declaration" 5+e that is unLust" let hi2 be unLust still= and he 0hich is filthy" let hi2 be filthy still= and he that is ri!hteous" let hi2 be ri!hteous still= and he that is holy" let hi2 be holy still.P T$e subLect of this assa!e is the close of robation. Ellen Jhite utiliFes lan!ua!e re2iniscent of ENekiel '".9 Revelation ;=+".: Revelation .9=.:".; and then 1uotes Revelation %%=... 4he latter t0o te7ts ?Rev .9=.:A %%=..@ clearly belon! in a Pclose of robationP conte7t. 6ur interest concerns the si!nificance of her use of the lan!ua!e of Revelation ;=+ in this conte7t ?Pthe an!el took the censer" and filled it 0ith fire of the altar" and cast it into the earth"P FH3@. Does Ellen JhiteKin the Early -ritings assa!eKunderstand the act of thro0in! do0n the censer de icted in Revelation ;=+ to be a reference
ot$er inter retation 0ill %e considered 2ore likely" based on the rior assu2 tions a reader brin!s to the te7t" either is ossible" %ased on t$e lan!ua!e she chose to use in conte7t. 63 ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'++@" %:'-;&" e2 hasis in ori!inal. 66 PAn an!el 0ith a 0riterGs inkhorn by $is side ... re orted....P >Early -ritings, %:'@" EFe# '=%" *" ^. 6< P4hro0 do0n the censerP ?ibid.@. 6= 5Loud voice ...+It is $one+6 ?ibid-" e2 hasis in ori!inal@.

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4he Inter reterGs /se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite to t$e end-time close o, pro%ationC 8e 0ill a ly the !uidelines sketched a%ove in an attempt to determine t$e ans(er correctly. 1irst' it is not clear that s$e intended the reader to erceive an allusion to Revelation ;=+ in her Early Writin$s statement* T$e hrase" Pthro0 do0n the censer'5 is certainly unmista#a%le* +f there is an allusion to Scri ture at all' ($en in vision she sees Besus 5t$ro( do0n the censer"P it is clearly an allusion to Revelation ;=+. "ut a nu2ber of indications de2onstrate t$at s$e (as not alludin! to Revelation ;=+ in an e0egeti!al manner* 5ote $er o%servations; It is Besus ($o ministers t$e incense" not an an!el. Besus ministers %e,ore the ark" not at t$e altar o, incense. Besus t$ro(s do(n the censer in front o, the ar#' not to t$e earth. 4hus" her state2ent 2erely ec$oes t$e lan!ua!e of Revelation ;=+ 0ithout referrin! the reader to that te7t. It is recarious to dra0 speci,ic e7e!etical infor2ation fro2 an echo o, %i%lical lan!ua!e. Second' no attempt to e e!ete Revelation ;=+ is evident in t$e passa!e* T$e statement is art of a visionary description of a future event; t$e close o, pro%ation* As suc$' it is a t$eolo!ical or ho2iletical usa!e o, Revelation =;3* T$e 2eanin! o, Revelation =;3 in t$e ori!inal conte t is not addressed. 4hird" the state2ent occurs in a ublished 0ork that 0as edited 0ith considerable care. Ho0ever" since the echo is uni1ue to this state2ent" it is indecisive for deter2inin! 0hether her settled understandin! associated Revelation ;=+ 0ith the end-ti2e close of robation. Fourth" as 2entioned earlier" the e7e!esis of Revelation ;=+ is not central to the issue in Early -ritings, a!es %:'-%;&. 4he issue at hand is a descri tion of the close of robation" not the conte7t of Revelation ;. 4he hraseolo!yKthro0in! do0n the censerKcould be o2itted 0ithout 2aterially affectin! the theolo!ical content of the state2ent. Fifth" the state2ent is an early one. 4hus" an inter reter 0ishin! to understand her usa!e here should be re ared for the ossibility that a later state2ent 2ay decisively clarify this one. 4he ossible i2 lications of this state2ent should not be ressed in the face of a later one" articularly if the later state2ent si!nificantly 2odifies the 2aterial at issue. Finally" the allusion only occurs one ti2e in all of her available 0orks. Even if its 2eanin! a eared clear to ail inter reters" it could be 1uestioned 0hether Ellen JhiteGs intention in the allusion had been ri!htly understood. Certainly she has not !one out other 0ay in her 0ritin!s to clarify the relation of Revelation ;=+ to the close of robation. To summariFe; As muc$ as (e (ould like to have e e!etical $elp in determinin! the meanin! o, Revelation ;=+ and its conte7t" Early Writin$s, .:&

T$e Interpreter9s )se o, t$e Jritin!s o, Ellen 0* 8$ite a!es %:'-%;&" thou!h it 2ay 0ell allude to Revelation ;=+" should not be used for that ur ose. It is not e7e!etical or central to the to ic in its conte7t" neither is it reasonably certain that Ellen Jhite intended the reader to erceive an allusion to Revelation ;=+. 6f !reat interest to this issue is the fact that the state2ent is later re eated ?nearly in its entirety@ in The 'reat (ontroversy, a!e 9.*. 4hat state2ent is 1uoted belo0 0ith the italics re resentin! all 0ords that are identical to the assa!e in Early -ritings.
An angel returning from the earth annoLnces that his -ork is done3 the 8inal te0t has been broL/ht Lpon the Eorld, and all v o have proved theJselves loEal to the divine precepts a_e recei_ed *t e seal o8 t e li_inJ Dod.+ Then *esLs ceases Mis intercession in t e 0anctuarE above. 9e lifts 9is hands and 1ith a loud voi e says, VIt is donedV and all the an0elic host lay off their cro-ns as !e +akes the sole+n announce+ent: V!e that is un:ust2 let him /e unaust still: and he -hich is filthy, let hi+ /e filthy still: and he that is ri0hteous, let hi+ /e ri0hteous still: and he that is holy, let hi+ /e holy still?V Revelation 22H11.1.

T$e subLect of t$is passa!e and t0o-thirds of the 0ordin! are identical (it$ 2ar%y -ritings, pa!es A<7-A=M* Even ($ere the 0ordin! is chan!ed the %asic meanin! is t$e same* "ut t(o si!ni,icant chan!es in Ellen 8$ite9s use of Scri ture have taken place* T$e lan!ua!e o,EFe#iel 7 and Revelation ;=+ $as %een dropped* In lace of Revelation ;=+ is the state2ent that Besus 5ceases +is intercession in the sanctuary above.P The 'reat (ontroversy assa!e clarifies the 2eanin! of the earlier assa!e. A arently" Ellen Jhite did not 0ant to leave the i2 ression that her allusion 0as intended to be taken as an e7 osition of Revelation ;=+ in its conte7t. 4herefore" in the later de iction she e2 loyed e7 licit ter2inolo!y instead of an echo of Revelation ;=+. T$is illustration indicates t$at to carry out these !uidelines takes patience and ti2e. 8robably" in many cases" the flavor of her vie(point 2ay %e o%tained by a care,ul sur,ace survey o, her state2ents. It beco2es essential to follo0 these !uidelines care,ully' ho0ever" ($enever a articular state2ent or series of state2ents beco2es controversial" usually due to a2bi!uity. In suc$ instances the burden of roof is on the inter reter to de2onstrate that Ellen Jhite ?0ere she alive@ (ould su ort his particular use of a !iven state2ent.

.' Jhite" The 'reat (ontroversy, 9.*" e2 hasis added.

.:.

4he Inter reterGs /se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite

Conclusion
After thorou!h study of the scri tural te7t" it 0ill be hel ful for the Adventist inter reter to e7a2ine Ellen JhiteGs use of Revelation for rofitable insi!hts. Her un aralleled !ras of the universal issues to 0hich the book of Revelation oints 2akes her state2ents about the book of enor2ous interest and i2 ortance. 5evertheless" her contribution to the discussion 2ust not be e7 anded beyond her o0n intention. 4o do so 0ill distort both her intention and HohnGs" thus under2inin! the authority of ins iration. 4he above !uidelines can hel rovide safe!uards a!ainst such unintentional 2isuse.

II
EDEGE4ICAI S4/$IES

Revelation (=.-;=. Revelation ;=%-..=.; Revelation .&=.-.. $aniel .%>Revelation .* 4i2e 8eriods

.:%

C$apter I/

Issues in Revelation; DARCOM Report`


ie distinctive fra2e t$at $olds to!et$er the picture of biblical truth as tau!$t %y Sevent$-day Adventists is t$eir understandin! of the prop$ecies o, Daniel and Revelation* In t$ese ro hecies the Adventist people B as $ave found t$eir ti2es" their identity" and their task. Besus C$rist is at *A- pi t$e center of t$e ro hetic Jord" and its dyna2ic in the Adventist ,ait$ EBo$n 6:;A7J A &eter .=.'@. Sevent$-day Adventists arrived at their inter retation o, "i%le ro hecy %y employin! t$e principles o, t$e historical sc$ool of ro hetic interpretation' sometimes called t$e $istoricist met$od or the continuous $istorical met$od* T$e $istoricist 2ethod accepts the assumption that the prop$ecies o, Daniel and Revelation are intended to unfold and to find ,ul,illment in $istorical ti2eKin t$e s an %et(een the prop$ets Daniel and Bo$n respectively and t$e ,inal esta%lis$ment of 0od9s eternal #in!dom* T$e year-day principle Ea sy2bolic day eIuals a literal year@ is an inte!ral part of t$e met$odJ ,or it ,unctions to unroll t$e sy2bolic time periods' ena%lin! us to locate t$e predicted events alon! t$e hi!h0ay of $istory* Besus employed t$e $istoricist 2ethod 0hen +e announced t$e ti2e o, +is ministry as a ,ul,illment o, prop$ecy EMar# 6;63J c,* Dan 7;A3H' and later ($en +e re,erred to t$e prop$esied ruin of Herusale2 and the Temple EMatt %(=.+A c,* Dan 7;A6H* T$e #illerites" our i22ediate forebears" (ere $istoricists' as 0ere also the si teent$-century &rotestant Refor2ers. In its endeavor to meet 8rotestant inter retations" the Roman Cat$olic C$urc$ introduced preteris# and futuris# as counter 2ethods of interpretation* T$ese t(o met$ods ,orm t$e basis o, t(o sc$ools o, present-day interpretation o, Daniel and Revelation* 4he reterist>historical-critical

nir 1

N d+

0Reprinted 8roJ Adventisi ;evie12 AL/Lst 3,11 1O <inistry2 January 1111.


6<3

3?--

Issues in Revelation osition re!ards t$e ro hecies of Daniel as 2eetin! fulfill2ent in the times and events of second century "*C* &alestine' and restricts Revelation to the first centuries A*D* Futuris2 slices off the seventieth (ee# of Daniel9s :&-0eek ro hecy" lacin! it at the end of t$e a!e" ($ere it also e pects the ,ul,illment o, most of t$e %oo# of Revelation* 4oday Seventh-day Adventists virtually stand alone as e ponents of t$e $istoricist 2ethod" since non-Cat$olic !rou s in !eneral $ave abandoned this a roach in favor o, one of t$e other t0o met$ods mentioned* As 2i!ht be e7 ected" t$e c$an!e in met$od $as inevita%ly %rou!$t a%out c$an!es in conclusions. T$e Daniel and Revelation Co22ittee 0ishes to reaffir2 to t$e (orld c$urc$ the validity of t$e historicist approac$ to these t0o apocalyptic books. T$e co22ittee sees it as t$e only sound 2ethod to use* Our pioneers did not ,ollo( 5cunnin!ly devised fablesP ($en t$ey searched and preac$ed t$e trut$s o, t$ese prop$ecies* T$ey $ave assed on to us a ric$ $erita!e* 8e call our 2e2bers to a rene(ed study o, t$ese !rand ro hetic %oo#s t$at continue to !ive certainty and stability to our ersonal ,ait$ in C$rist and +is comin! and to t$e (orld(ide outreac$ o, the Advent eo le in t$is sole2n era o, 0od9s Lud!2ent activity in the $eavenly sanctuary ERev .(=9-.(A Dan :='"6M'.*".(@. 5ot all se!2ents of $aniel and Revelation are as clearly understood as others. 4here is a tendency for so2e earnest ersons to focus on the lesser understood ortions to such an e7tent that they 2iss the !rand s0ee of the clearer assa!es and the i2 ortant theolo!ical truths they resent for our ti2es. 4he desire to unlock these obscure ortions ro2 ts the tendency to alter 2ethodolo!y and to e2 loy unsound rinci les in order to Find satisfactory solutions. 40o sections of Revelation es ecially fall into this cate!ory= the seals ?Rev (=.-;=.@ and the tru2 ets ?Rev ;=%-..=.:@. Jhile the church 2ay never fully understand these ortions of the lar!er ro hecy" 0e can learn i2 ortant lessons fro2 the2" and 0e 0ould encoura!e ersonal study. 4he co22ittee at this oint has not develo ed a satisfactory inter retation of these ro hecies that solves all the roble2s inherent in the2" but it has co2e to a!ree2ent on so2e !eneral rinci les and so2e s ecific insi!hts. If 0e 0ould reserve the truth and secure a true inter retation of these challen!in! ro hecies" 0e 2ust do our study 0ithin the ara2eters of sound rinci les of inter retation. 4he co22ittee a!rees on the follo0in! oints" and sub2its the2 to our astors and 2e2bers for their rayerful consideration.

.:9

Issues in Revelation 0eneral &rinciples 4he co22ittee a!rees that= .. 4he literary structure divides the book of Revelation into t0o 2aLor sections= ?.@ a historical section ?Rev .-.(@ that e2 hasiNes the e7 erience of the church and related events durin! the Christian Era" and ?%@ an eschatolo!ical ?end-ti2e@ section ?Rev .+-%%@ that focuses articularly on end-ti2e events and the end of the 0orld. Althou!h Bible students 2ay differ so2e0hat on the recise oint ($ere the dividin! line should be laced" serious study by Adventist scholars such as Fenneth A. Strand >Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, %nd ed." .':'@" C. #. #a70ell >'o$ (ares, vol. %".';+@" and J. H. Shea ?various articles m n$rews ;niversity Seminary Stu$ies5 fully confir2 this literary division and its conse1uent effect on inter retation. <. 4he series of the seals and of the tru2 ets occur in the historical section of Revelation. Conse1uently their fulfill2ent should be sou!ht for in historical ti2e" the Christian Era. *. 4he ro hecies of the seals and of the tru2 ets have only one ro hetic fulfill2ent. a. 4he $aniel 2odel of a ocaly tic ro hecy is clear on this oint= Each 2etal" beast" and horn has only one fulfill2ent. ?Even the Plittle ho2P of $aniel ;" used as a sy2bol for Ro2e in its t0o hases" has only one fulfill2ent= Ro2e.@ 4here is no conte7tual evidence that the a ocaly tic ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation should be !iven dual>2ulti le fulfill2ents. 4his latter ro osition 0as e7a2ined at len!th and reLected %y the Sanctuary Revie0 Co22ittee ?re resentatives fro2 the 0orld divisions@ in .';& ?see PState2ent on $es2ond Ford $ocu2ent"P )inis-tryA Octo%er .';&@. 4he $aniel and Revelation Co22ittee has like0ise reLected it ?see PFulfill2ents of 8ro hecy"P The Seventy -ee.s, Jeviti!us, and the Nature o" 4rophe!y, . %;;-*%%@. $ual>2ulti le fulfill2ents of $aniel>Revelation also fail to find su ort in Ellen Jhite ?see Biblical Researc$ Institute tract" PEllen G. Jhite and the Inter retation of $aniel and RevelationP@. b. $ual fulfill2ent 2ay be resent in so2e !eneral>classical ro hecies in 0hich there are conte7tual 2arkers indicatin! suchKfor e7a2 le" t$e ro hecy of the out ourin! of the Holy S irit" Hoel %A the ro hecy of the vir!in birth" Isaiah :. But no such 2arkers are resent in the a ocaly tic ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation. c* In re!ard to t$e trumpets' Revelation itself ma#es an end-ti2e .::

Issues in Revelation a lication of the language of the tru2 ets in its descri tion of the seven last la!ues. It is therefore an unnecessary ressin! of these scri tures to lace both the tru2 ets and the la!ues in a si2ultaneous ost- robation fulfill2ent.

T$e Seals-Revelation :;6-=;6 4he co22ittee a!rees on the follo0in!=


I* Settin! .. Revelation (-+ is a unit" describin! the sa2e scene ?Rev (=%A +=.@. A* Revelation (-+ portrays a t$rone scene in the $eavenly sanctuary ?cf. Rev (=*A ;=*@. *. 4he e2 hasis of the throne scene is u on ChristGs atonin! death" His acco2 lish2ent at the cross ?Rev +=9"'".%@. (. 4he throne scene is Zoi the investi!ative Lud!2ent of$aniel :='".&. a* T$e Revelation scene is not desi!nated a Lud!2entA the Daniel scene is EDan :=.&" %9@. b. 4he Revelation scene has only one book= It is in the FatherGs handA it is closed and sealedA no bein! in t$e universe e cept t$e Lam% can o en itA t$e %oo# is never opened in the vision* "y contrast' in t$e Daniel scene there are t0o or more %oo#s* T$ey are open' and it is implied that t$ey (ere o ened for t$e Ancient of days by the attendin! $oly %ein!s EDan :=.&@. II* Time 1rame .. 4he throne scene stands at the co22ence2ent of the Christian Era. a* Bo$n is s$o(n ?by the seIuential openin! o, t$e seals@ 5t$in!s 0hich 2ust %e hereafterP ERev (=.A c,* Rev 6;6'67H* b. 4he FatherGs throne ?Rev (@" the overco2in! of Christ ?Rev +=+@" and His Loinin! the Father at His throne ?vs. 9A cf. Rev *=%.@ are central the2es in this throne scene ?Rev ( and +@. 4he victorious redee2ed Loin the throne scene in Revelation : ?vss. '" .&@. Bet0een these t0o throne scenes lie the seal events of Revelation 9. 4hus the seals of Revelation 9 are to be located bet0een the cross victory of Christ and the victory of the redee2ed" that is" in the Christian Era. III. 0eneral 6bservations on the Seals .. 4he i2a!ery of the four horses and their colors is dra0n fro2 <echariah .=;..A 9=.-9A .&=*" but is e2 loyed by Hohn to sy2boliNe a different 2essa!e than that conveyed by <echariah. %. 4he seals are se1uential" re resentin! succeedin! events across the Christian Era. 4his is evidenced by the order of the vision= 4he seals are .:;

Issues in Revelation I" broken one after another" not all at the sa2e ti2e ?Rev 9=."*"+" :"'".%A ;=.@. *. 4he seals offer a !eneral ro!ression of history rather than a detailed chronolo!yA their inter retation" therefore" is not bound s ecifically to the ro hecy of the seven churches. (. 4he seals are a arallel develo 2ent of #atthe0 %( and %+ ?the Syno tic a ocaly se@. 4his link is another evidence for their fulfill2ent in the Christian Era. a. 8reachin! of the!os el?#att%(=.(@. b. Jars" fa2ines" estilences" earth1uakes ?vss. 9-;@. c. 8eriod of !reat tribulation> ersecution ?vs. %.@. d. Si!ns in sun" 2oon" stars ?vs. %'@. e. Second Co2in! ?vss. *&"*.@. f. Hud!2ent ?#att %+=*.-(9@.

a* 1irst seal; ($ite horse ERev 9=%@. b. Secondthrou!hfourthseals= 0ar" fa2ine" estilence ?vss. *-;@. c* 1i,t$ seal; cry o, martyrs to be aven!ed ?vss. '-..@. d. Si7th seal= !reat earth1uakeA si!ns 2 sun" 2oon" stars ?vss. .%" .*@. e* Si t$ seal; Pthe !reat day o, $is (rat$ is co2eP ?vss. .(-.:@. f. Seventh seal= Psilence in heavenP ?Rev ;=.@A ossibly 2illennial or e7ecutive hases of the final Lud!2ent ?Rev %&=("...+@.

+. Jhile there are si2ilarities bet0een the seals and the Syno tic a ocaly se" there are also differences. In so2e instances the sy2bolis2 a ears to e7tend the 2eanin! beyond a si2 le re etition of #atthe0 %(. 8or e7a2 le= a. If the first seal sy2boliNes" initially" the a ostolic outreach 0ith the !os el ?cf. <ech .&=*@" then the chan!in! colors of the horses ?0hite" red" black" ale>!reen@ su!!est ro!ressively dee enin! a ostasy. b. 4he hysical si!ns such as 0ar" fa2ine" and estilence 0ould be trans2uted by the sy2bolis2 to ortray the additional features GodGs eo le 0ould have to live throu!h= unrest because of reli!ious differences" fa2ine for GodGs truth" severe ersecutions of Christians by Christians. .:'

Issues in Revelation c. Since Christian a ostasy a ears to be resent in the second throu!h fourth seals" the unha y events de icted in these seals 2ay reflect the i2a!ery of the covenant 0oes>curses redicted to occur 0hen the covenant is broken ?Iev %9=.(*'@. 9. Jhile each of the first four seals has an initial be!innin!" the action once be!un 2ay continue on 0ith varyin! de!rees of intensity. a. First seal; Alt$ou!$ %e!un %y t$e apostles' the reachin! o, t$e !ospel continues across t$e era. T$e 2artyrs under the fifth seal are told t$at 2ore 0ill yet be #illed ERev 6;6.@. %* Apocalyptic models ,or this #ind o, sym%olism; ?.@ T$e in,luence of t$e ,our %easts lin!ers after an initial seIuential rule ?$an :=.%@A ?%@ the seIuential messa!es of t$e t$ree an!els continue on after their initial announcement ERev 6:;6-6AH* <* T$e ,irst seal represents t$e !os el 2essa!e be!innin! in the first century ERev 6;AH* T$e fifth seal re resents t$e ersecutions o, the #iddle A!es ?vss. 7-66H* T$e si t$ seal relates to the si!ns of ChristGs second co2in! Evss* .%-.:@. T$e sevent$ seal relates to so2e event o, cos2ic si!nificance a,ter t$e Second Comin! ?;=.@. =* T$e sealin! activity o, Revelation :=. -; is included in the time fra2e o, t$e si t$ seal and is the response to the 1uestion 5T$e !reat day of his (rat$ is comeJ and ($o s$all %e able to standC5 ERev 9=.:@. 7* T$e !reat eart$Iua#e and t$e si!ns of t$e sun" 2oon" and stars of the si7th seal are literal" and the si7th seal o ens 0ith the Iisbon earth1uake. 6M* T$e celestial si!ns in t$e si7th seal 2ay $ave natural> hysical causes Ec,* openin! o, t$e Red Sea' E od .(=%.@A nevert$eless' they are si!nificant events %ecause t$ey occur at t$e ri!$t time in connection (it$ t$e close o, t$e 6A6M-year period o, papal supremacy and ersecution ?cf. Mar# .*=%(@.

T$e 4ru2 ets-Revelation ;=%-..=.: 4he co22ittee a!rees that= 6* T$e trumpets are seIuential' as evidenced %y their occurrin! one a,ter anot$er in t$e vision* A* T$e trumpets appear as (arnin!s or announce2ents of adverse events to come Ec,* Num 6M;6-6MH* =. A particular trumpet event may occu y an e7tensive period o, ti2e ERev 7;3'63J 6M;<H* (. Revelation .&=l-ll=.(is an interlude bet0een the si7th and seventh tru2 ets ?Lust as Revelation : is an interlude bet0een the si7th and seventh .;&

Issues in Revelation seals@ and belon!s under the si7th tru2 et ?other than the flashback to the .%9&-year eriod TRev ..=*U@. 3* T$e tru2 et events occur in $istorical' robationary time* a* Introduction ERev ;=%-9@= 1unctionin! as an announce2ent of the upcomin! seven trumpets' verses % and 6 are mar#ers to ,orm a literary inclusion around t$e t(o rocesses descri%ed in verses *-+= ?.@ 4he on!oin! intercessory 2inistry of Christ ?vss. *"(@. ?%@ 4he cessation of ChristGs intercessory 2inistry and the close of hu2an robation ?vs. +A cf. ENek .&=.-:@. 4his literary device" an inclusion-introduction" definitely ties the tru2 et event series to the era of ChristGs hi!h riestly intercession" robationary ti2e. b. Seventh tru2 et= 4he soundin! of the seventh tru2 et is linked 0ith the finishin! of Pthe 2ystery of GodP ?Rev .&=:@. P4he 2ystery of 0od5 is the !os el and its rocla2ation ?E h *=(A 9=.'A Col (=*A Ro2 .9=%+" %9@. If the seventh tru2 et is tied to the closin! u of the !os el 0ork" the !os el dis ensation" then the recedin! si7 tru2 ets 2ust of necessity sound durin! robationary ti2e. c. Golden altar= Reference to the !olden altar of incense at the co22ence2ent of the si7th tru2 et is a 2arker in the ro hecy" indicatin! t$at ChristGs riestly intercession is still in rocess ?Rev '=.*A cf. ;=*"(@. d. Interlude ?see 5o. ( in this section@= Gos el 0ork is carried on under t$e si7th tru2 et. ?.@ 4he church ?sy2boliNed by Hohn@ is to reach Pa!ain TtoU 2any eo les" and nations" and ton!ues" and kin!sP ?Rev .&=..@. ?%@ 8eo le can re ent and !ive !lory to God ?Rev ..=.*A cf. .9='@. e. 4i2e eriods= 4he resence of ti2e eriods in the fifth and si7th tru2 ets are 2arkers indicatin! that these tru2 ets a ear in historical ti2e before the close of hu2an robation.

.;.

C$apter /

Seals and Trumpets; Some Current Discussions


Hon 8aulien
Editorial Synopsis; In recent years Adventist scholarshi has focused on the literary structure of the book of Revelation. 4hese studies have confir2ed the Adventist ioneer consensus that the fulfill2ents of the arallel lines of the ro hecy ?na2ely" the seven churches" seven seals" and seven tru2 ets@ e7tended across the Christian Era" be!innin! in HohnGs day and reachin! to the Second Co2in!. 4oday so2e are ar!uin! for t0o distinct fulfill2ents of the seals and tru2 ets ?and other ortions of Revelation" includin! the ti2e eriods@. 4hey see a se!on$ ? ri2ary for the2@ end-ti2e fulfill2ent both of the seals and tru2 ets" co22only linkin! the for2er to the investi!ative Lud!2ent of $aniel :. 4he tru2 ets are laced either in the end-ti2e Lust rior to the Second Co2in!" or i22ediately after the close of robationary ti2e. In t$is c$apter t$e (riter summariFes the evidence em%edded in t$e introductions to these series as 0ell as in t$e sanctuary patterns and ,estivals reflected in t$e %oo#* T$e collected data' $e a,,irms' clearly endorses t$e correctness of t$e pioneer $istoricist vie( t$at these series e tend across t$e C$ristian A!e and 0ere never intended ?as 0hole seriesH to ,ind a second ,ul,illment at t$e end o, the a!e.

C$apter Outline
I. Current Issues II* T$e 50rand Strate!yBG o, Revelation III* +istoricism and t$e Seven Seals IV* +istoricism and the Seven 4ru2 ets 3. Conclusions

.;*

Seals and 4ru2 ets= Some Current Discussions

Current Issues
&ioneer Consensus 4o0ard the end of the last century leadin! Seventh-day Advent-ist Bible students arrived at a consensus on ho0 to a ly the various arts o, t$e %oo# of Revelation to the history of the C$ristian Era* T$ey understood t$e letters to t$e seven churches ERev .-*@ to be addressed initially to seven ,irst-century c$urc$es over ($ic$ Bo$n had a supervisory interest* T$e 2eanin! o, t$ese letters e tended as 0ell E%y sy2bolic representationH to t$e seven 2aLor eriods o, C$ristian history. Seventh-day Adventist pioneers understood the seals' t$e tru2 ets" and cha ter .% ERev (-.%@ to o,,er three parallel lines coverin! the entire C$ristian Era* ?.@ T$e seven seals paralleled t$e seven c$urc$es as an outline of t$e 2aLor eriods o, C$ristian $istory* ?%@ T$e seven trumpets contained primarily t$e Gud!ments o, 0od upon t$e 8estern and Eastern ortions of t$e Roman Empire* ?*@ C$apter .% depicted the !reat controversy in $eaven and its out(or#in! in the e perience o, t$e c$urc$ on earth. 4he ioneers also a!reed that the bulk of the events described in cha ters .*-.' concerned the end-ti2e" leadin! u to the second co2in! of C$rist* Revelation %&-%%" on t$e other $and' (as seen to ,all beyond the Second Co2in!. +istoric Adventis2" t$ere,ore' ca2e to a!ree t$at the %oo# o, Revelation divided naturally into t(o parts* T$e ,irst covered 2aLor events of ro hetic history %et(een the t(o advents o, C$rist' t$ou!$ eac$ series led u to the end* T$is interpretive approac$ to Revelation .-.%" #no(n as historicis2" (as %ased on t$e mode o, Daniel and o, Besus +imsel, to ortray t$e future in terms of a series of $istorical events leadin! ,rom t$e ti2e o, the ro het to t$e esta%lis$ment o, the eternal #in!dom*6 4he second division of Revelation 0as understood to cover ri2arily the events connected 0ith the Second Advent itself. Althou!h follo0ed in e7act detail by fe0 today" &aniel an$ Revelation, by /riah S2ith" continues as an e7 ression of this basic consensus ha22ered out about a hundred years a!o by our s iritual forebears. %

1 Daniel 2 i0 a Jood e~am@le. 2 Bria S+ith, Daniel and the Revelation 'Battle Creek! PI, 1".7].

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

Ne( Interpretations Advanced %y Some


In recent years several Seventh-day Adventists have e7 lored the ossibility that the end-ti2e ers ective of Revelation 2i!ht be 2uch broader t$an Adventists have thou!ht. By and lar!e" these inter reters a!ree 0ith t$e historic consensus re!ardin! the churches ?Rev .-*@ and the latter half of the book ?Rev .*-%%@. Ho0ever" they co22only ar!ue for a se!on$ future fulfill2ent of certain ortions of Revelation includin! their ti2e eriods. A 2aLor oint of disa!ree2ent lies in ho0 the seals and the tru2 ets ?Rev (-..@ are to be understood. 4hese Pend-ti2e inter retersP * believe that the seals and tru2 ets ?Rev (-..@ ortray events associated 0ith the end-ti2e rather than 0ith the overall s0ee of the Christian Era. 4he seals ?Rev (-9@ are usually understood to ortray as ects of the investi!ative Lud!2ent that be!an in .;((" and the tru2 ets ?Rev ;-..@ are understood to follo0 the close of robation Lust before the return of Christ. For so2e" these are vie0ed as se!on$ fulfill2ents. Jhat has e2er!ed fro2 their studies and ensuin! discussions is the realiNation that Seventh-day Adventists have not invested the kind of creative ener!y u on the seals and tru2 ets that 0ould enable the historicist osition" or any other osition" to be declared fir2ly established. Adventists have tended to assu2e that the seals and tru2 ets are t0o historical series" e7tendin! fro2 the ro hetGs day to the end" but have not established that vie0 oint on the basis of careful e7e!esis of the te7t. ( Jhether the e2er!in! end-ti2e inter retations of the seals and the tru2 ets rove to be correct" the authors of these inter retations have sti2ulated study by dra0in! attention to these 2ore obscure ortions of Revelation. Althou!h an understandin! of the seals and tru2 ets 2ay not be critical to salvation" current realities re1uire that they be !iven 2ore careful attention than has been the case in the ast. 4his cha ter" therefore" atte2 ts to describe a nu2ber of realities in the book of Revelation that need to be taken into account 0hen addressin! ho0 the seals and the tru2 ets are to be inter reted.
* 4hey are often labeled PfuturistsP but0hilc this desi!nation is descri tive u toa oint" they usually disclai2 any acceptance of the futurist dis cnsational syste2 o, inter retation. ( In su ort o, this assertion" note )ria$ S2ithGs co22entary on Rev ;=:-'=%.. Si7ty-t0o ercent of S2ithGs co22ents are directly 1uoted fro2 non-Sevcnth-day Adventist co22entators. #ost of the rest is ara hrased. 4here is $ardly an instance in 0hich reference is 2ade to the te t* 4he historicist osition is assu2ed as a !iven" it is never ar!ued fro2 the te7t of the tru2 ets.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

T$e 50rand Strate!y5 o, Revelation 1unction o, t$e Literary Arran!ement A 2aLor iece of evidence cited in defense of a historicist understandin! of the seals and tru2 ets is based on the observation that the book of Revelation is structured as a Pchias2.P + A Pchiastic structureP occurs 0hen 0ords and ideas arallel each other in reverse order fro2 the be!innin! to the end of a book. In the case of Revelation" the 2aterial before Revelation .+ is" on the 0hole" aralleled in reverse by the 2aterial co2in! after cha ter .+. Fenneth Strand considers the first ?and lar!er@ half to be concerned 0ith the entire Christian A!e. 4he content of Revelation follo0in! cha ter .+ concerns al2ost e7clusively the ti2e after the close of earthGs robation" an event that still lies in the future. 4he Pchias2P and its results are self-evident 0hen one co2 ares the first three cha ters of Revelation 0ith the last t0o. 9 End-ti2e inter reters" ho0ever" have resisted this understandin! of the literary arran!e2ent of Revelation" since it i2 acts ne!atively on their inter retations of the seals and tru2 ets. I have sou!ht to clarify the a licability of Fenneth StrandGs outline to the seals and the tru2 ets by carefully co2 arin! cha ters (-: 0ith cha ter .'" as Strand su!!ests. I found" in the ori!inal lan!ua!e" four clusters of arallel ideas bet0een the seals and cha ter .'" t0o of 0hich bear directly on the issue at hand.: .. In cha ters ( and +" the 0orshi scenes de ict raise offered to God for Creation and the cross. Ho0ever" arallel scenes in cha ters : and .' de ict raise to God for redee2in! +is eo le fro2 end-ti2e Babylon. 4his observation su!!ests that the best lace2ent of cha ters ( and + is at the be!innin! of the Christian Era. %. Revelation 9=.& de icts a ti2e 0hen God is Pnot yet Lud!in!.P
3 Dennet$ A* Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation. %nd ed. ?5a les" FI" .':'@" (*-+'. 9 5ote the follo0in! arallels= l=l........................P0hat must soon take laceP ..........................%%=9 .=*................. Pblessed are those... 0ho kee .. .P....................%%=: .=*................................. Pthe ti2e is nearP....................................%%=.& .=(.............................. Pthe seven churchesP..........-.............K....%%=.9 .=.:........................... Pthe first and the lastP...........K......KK%.=9 %=:....-....-...........................Ptrec of lifeP ..................................%%=% %=................................. Psecond deathP..................K..............%.=; *=.%................................ Pne0 Herusale2P.............KK ..............%.=.& : For a 2ore co2 lete discussion of these arallel clusters" see cha . .." P4he Seven Seals"P in this volume*

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So2e

Current

Revelation .'=% co2es after the Lud!2ent is co2 leted. 4he Lud!2ent does not take lace in cha ters ( and + 0hen the seals have yet to be o ened. It is obvious that the Lud!2ent 2ust occur so2eti2e bet0een the o enin! of the fifth seal ?in 0hich the 2artyrs call for Lud!2ent@ and the ronounce2ent of Lud!2ent co2 leted in Revelation .'=%. 4hese t0o observations coincide 0ith 0hat one 0ould e7 ect if the first art of Revelation concerns the 0hole Christian A!e and the latter art the end-ti2e. 1unction o, t$e Sanctuary in Revelation Introductory sanctuary scenes* Research has uncovered a series of indications that Hohn hi2self understood the seals and the tru2 ets to cover the broad s0ee of Christian history rather than the end-ti2e alone. For e7a2 le" the sanctuary scenes that introduce various arts of Revelation; de2onstrate a si!nificant ro!ression. The first sanctuary scene >F,F<-<C5. Here the vision uses sanctuary i2a!ery to ortray ChristGs resence a2on! the churches on earthA ho0ever" it is not a !li2 se into the heavenly sanctuary. 4he scene occurs on 8at2os itself" and the seven la2 stands re resent the seven churches. 4he e7 licit invitation to Pco2e u P to the heavenly real2 co2es later in Revelation (=.. The se!on$ san!tuary s!ene >:,F-I,F:5. 4he focus no0 shifts to the sanctuary in heaven. 4he lar!est collection of sanctuary i2a!ery in the book is found in this introduction to the seals. 4he scene contains a thorou!h 2i7 of i2a!ery fro2 nearly every as ect of the Hebre0 cultus. In the Israelite sanctuary on earth only t0o occasions touched base (it$ nearly every as ect of its 0orshi = the inau!uration service at 0hich ti2e the sanctuary 0as dedicated ?cf. E7od (&@ and the $ay of Atone2ent. 4he sanctuary scene in cha ters (-+ is the first vie0 of the heavenly sanctuary in the book. It is best identified 0ith the inau!uration or dedication service of the ancient sanctuary. 4he central focus is on the conse1uences of the cross" one of 0hich 0as the establish2ent of ChristGs rei!n in the heavenly sanctuary. 4he ortrayal is definitely not a Lud!2ent scene as one 2i!ht e7 ect if the $ay of Atone2ent 0ere in vie0. In fact" the e7 licit lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent is totally absent fro2 the scene. ' 4he only ti2e a Greek 0ord for
= Rev .=.%.%&A (=.-+=.(A ;=%-9A ..=.'A .+=+.;A .'=.-;A %.=.-%%=+. 7 T$e 0ree# 0ords for PHud!2ent"P .risis, .rima, and laino, are 1uite co22on in the second half of the book.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

Lud!in! a ears in the first half of the book is in Revelation 9=.&" and there the assertion is that God has not yet be!un to Lud!eV Since the sanctuary scene in Revelation + recedes the o enin! of the seals" the evidence that the fifth seal occurs in a ti2e of Pnot Lud!in!P is decisive in locatin! the seals in the !eneral Christian Era. The third and fourth sanctuary scenes 9B0<-C and 3303D6. 4hesecontinue in the heavenly sanctuary. 4he for2er ?;=%-9@ resents an e7 licit vie0 of the first a art2ent 0ith its services of intercession. 4he latter ?..=.'@ ortrays an e7 licit vie0 of the Second A art2ent in the conte7t of Lud!2ent ?cf. ..=.;@. The fifth sanctuary scene >FI,I-G5. 4his vie0 takes u the lan!ua!e of inau!uration a!ain ?!lory fillin! the te2 le@" but actually ortrays a shuttin! do0n of the sanctuary" its de-inau!uration or cessation of its 2inistry. The sixth sanctuary scene 93D03-3E6. 4he lan!ua!e of throne, worship, and Jamb is characteristic of the second scene" but all e7 licit sanctuary i2a!es are absent. 4he heavenly sanctuary has faded fro2 vie0. The seventh sanctuary scene ><F,F-<<,I5. 4he focus of the vision returns to earth" the counter art to cha ter .. 4he Iord God and the Ia2b are the te2 le of the Holy City ?%.=%%@. God is no0 0ith His eo le on earth ?%.=*@. 4hese introductory sanctuary scenes sho0 t0o definite lines of ro!ression. First" the readerGs attention is dra0n fro2 earth to heaven" and back a!ain to earth. Secondly" he is led fro2 the inau!uration of the heavenly sanctuary to intercession" to Lud!2ent" to the sanctuaryGs cessation" and finally to its absence. 4his ro!ression is illustrated belo0.

?.@ Rev .=.%-%& ?%@ Rev : and 3 EInau!urationH ?*@ Rev ;=%-9 ?Intercession@
'4] Rev 11:11 Q*Ld/Jent7 '5] Rev 15H5#" 'Ce00ation] Q67 Rev 11:1"1: QAbsence7 '7] `e_ 21H1#22H5

EAR4H

HEA3E5 EAR4H

In this ro!ression the first e7 licit day of atone2ent-Lud!2ent scene takes lace only in ..=.;".'. 4he first half of the book focuses on inau!ura.;;

Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

tion and intercessionA the latter half 2oves to Lud!2ent and reLection. 4his is su ortive of the ioneer consensus and Fenneth StrandGs basic insi!ht that the book of Revelation is divided into historical and eschatolo!ical al_e0. T$e daily>yearly pattern* Jhen the book of Revelation as a 0hole is e7a2ined in the li!ht of the sanctuary" discoveries of a 2ore i2 licit nature are 2ade. Fro2 historical sources 0e have beco2e fa2iliar 0ith the 0ay the daily and yearly services of the sanctuary 0ere carried on in the century 0hen Revelation 0as 0ritten. A co2 arison of Revelation .; 0ith these sources su!!ests that this section of Revelation reflects the daily services of the sanctuary that foreshado0ed the cross..& 4he first 2aLor act in the daily >tami>W5 sacrificial service of the 4e2 le 0as for a selected riest to enter the holy lace and tri2 the la2 stand" 2akin! sure that each of the la2 s 0as burnin! bri!htly and had a fresh su ly of oil ?cf. Rev .=.%-%&@. Follo0in! this 2inistry the !reat door of the 4e2 le 0as left o en ?cf. Rev (=.@. 4hen a la2b 0as slain ?cf. Rev +=9@ and its blood oured out at the base of the altar of burnt offerin! in the outer court of the 4e2 le ?cf. Rev 9='@. After the ourin! out of the blood" incense 0as offered at the !olden altar in the holy lace ?cf. Rev ;=*-(A Iuke .=;-.&@. 4hen durin! a break in the sin!in! ?cf. Rev ;=.@ the tru2 ets 0ere blo0n to indicate that the sacrifice 0as co2 lete ?cf. Rev ;=%"9@. 5ot only does the first art of Revelation reflect all the 2aLor details of the daily sacrifice in the 4e2 le" but also it alludes to the2 essentially in the sa2e order. 4hus" the 2aterial 2akin! u the churches" seals" and tru2 ets a ears to be subtly associated 0ith the activities in the 4e2 le related to the daily >tami$5 service. Seventh-day Adventists understand these daily services to be ty ical of the intercessory hase of ChristGs 2inistry be!un in the heavenly sanctuary at the ti2e of His ascension in A-$. *.. 4he fact that the introductory scenes to the seals and the tru2ets are associated 0ith sanctuary inau!uration and intercession is certainly co2 atible 0ith this findin!. It is interestin!" therefore" to find in cha ter .. that the book 2oves to the e7 licit lan!ua!e of the yearly services of the $ay of Atone2ent. Fenneth Strand has ointed out that Revelation ..=.-% contains a stron! allusion to the $ay of Atone2ent" 0hich co2es i22ediately after a
6M 4he source for Ihe descri tion of the daily sacrifice is the tractate Tanu$ in the )ishnah, a second century A*D* collection of earlier traditions ertainin! to Ihe la(s' traditions" and ractices of Early Hudais2.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

reference to the co2 letion of the ti2e ro hecies of $aniel ?Rev .&=+" 9@. .. In Ieviticus .9Kthe 2aLor $ay of Atone2ent cha terKatone2ent is 2ade for the hi!h riest" the sanctuary" the altar" and the eo le. 4he only other lace in Scri ture 0here the ter2s san!tuary, altar, an$people are co2bined is in Revelation ..=.-%. Since the 54 Hi!h 8riest" Hesus Christ" needs no atone2ent" the co22on reference to san!tuary, altar, and people bein! 2easured a ears to be a deliberate recollection of the $ay of Atone2ent as the day 0hen these 0ere evaluated or P2easuredP ?ef. % Sa2 ;=%A #att :=%@. 4his subtle $ay of Atone2ent allusion co2es Lust rior to the 2ore e7 licit one of Revelation ..=.;-.'. In conclusion" 0e 2ay infer that the daily>yearly attern e2bedded in the sanctuary i2a!ery of Revelation su!!ests that the first ortion of the book ?Rev .-.&@ 0as 0ritten 0ith the intercessory 2inistry of Christ in 2ind. In the eleventh cha ter" i2a!ery related to the daily services is re laced by allusions to the Lud!2ent-oriented 2inistry of the $ay of Atone2ent. 4his is 0hat 0e 0ould e7 ect if the first half of the book focuses ri2arily on the lar!e events of the Christian A!e and the latter half on the final events of that a!e 0hen Lud!2ent 0ill brin! sin and sinners to an end. Annual ,easts in Revelation* E1ually strikin! is the evidence that the book of Revelation a ears to be atterned also after the annual feasts of the He0ish year..% 4assover. 4he letters to the seven churches are re2iniscent of the 8assover" the ri2ary feast of the s rin! season. For e7a2 le" no0here else in Revelation are there such stron! concentrations of references to ChristGs death and resurrection ?cf. Rev .=+".:-.;@. .* ChristGs intense scrutiny of the churches re2inds us of each He0ish householdGs search for leaven to re2ove it Lust before 8assover ?E7od .%=.'A .*=:@. Since 8assover is the only festival fulfilled by the earthly Christ ?. Cor +=:@" it is fittin! that it 0ould be associated 0ith that ortion of the book 0here He is ortrayed in His 2inistry to the churches on earth. Pentecost. As the inau!uration of the heavenly sanctuary" the thronescene of Revelation (-+ is fittin!ly associated 0ith 8entecost. 4he first 8en.. Fenneth A. Strand" PAn 6verlooked 6ld-4esta2ent Back!round to Revelation ..=."P ;SS %% ?.';(@= *.:-%+. 6A I am indebted to Ric$ard $avLdson" SDA 4heolo!ical Se2inary" ,or 2any of the arallels descri%ed $ere* .* Althou!h t$e slain la2b is mentioned in t$e ne7t art of Revelation ?Rev+=9@" it $as died revious to t$e scene in Rev 3 ERev 3;3-6J c,* *=%.@. 67M

Seals and $iscussions

4ru2 ets=

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Current

tecost took lace durin! the ti2e 0hen the la0 0as !iven to #oses on #ount Sinai ?E7od .'-%&@. As the ne0 #oses" Christ receives" as it 0ere" t$e ne0 lorah fro2 God ?Rev +@. E7odus .' also involved the inau!uration of Israel as the eo le of God ?E7od .'=+-9A cf. Rev +='-.&@. 4he He0ish litur!y for the feast of 8entecost included the readin! of not only E7odus .' but also of ENekiel ." a 2aLor literary back!round to Revelation
4#5.

?east of Tru#pets, "ay of 'tone#ent. 4he blo0in! of seven tru2 etsK near the center of the book ?Rev ;-'"..@Kre2inds the reader of the seven 2onthly ne0 2oon feasts that cli2a7ed in the Feast of 4ru2 ets" 2arkin! the transition bet0een the s rin! and fall feasts. 4he Feast of 4ru2 ets itself" fallin! on the first day of the seventh 2onth ?corres ondin! to the seventh tru2 et@ ushered in the ti2e of Lud!2ent that led u to the $ay of Atone2ent ?cf. ..=.;-.'@. 4here is an increasin! focus on the conce t of Hud!2ent fro2 that oint on in the book..( ?east of Ta,ernac%es. 4he last of the five basic feasts of the Ievitical syste2 ?cf. Iev %*@ 0as the Feast of 4abernacles that follo0ed the $ay of Atone2ent. Harvest 0as over ?cf. Rev .(%&@. God 0as no0 Ptabernaclin!P 0ith His eo le ?Rev %.=*@. 4he end-ti2e celebrations of Revelation are filled 0ith i2a!es of feastin!" al2 branches" 2usic" and reLoicin! before the Iord. .+ 4he ri2ary i2a!es of the FeastK0ater and li!htKfind their ulti2ate fulfill2ent in Revelation %%=."+. Jithin Adventis2" the s rin! feasts have been associated 0ith the cross of Christ and His inau!uration and 2inistry in the heavenly sanctuary. T$e fall feasts find their fulfill2ent in the ti2e of the end and in the read-vent Lud!2ent and events surroundin! the second co2in! of Christ. Jhat $as been overlooked is the fact that the Feast of 4ru2 ets co2es as the cli2a7 of seven ne0 2oon feasts ?5u2 .&=.&@ and for2s the brid!e bet0een the s rin! and the fall feasts. It is" therefore" in the seven tru2 ets o, Revelation that one finds the chronolo!ical brid!e bet0een the s rin! and fall feasts" bet0een a focus on the cross and the be!innin! of the Christian A!e" and a focus on the end-ti2e in Revelation. 4hus" the first half of Revelation" based on the daily sacrifices and the s rin! feasts" offers an e2 hasis on the cross and its effectsA 0hile the latter half of the book" based on the yearly sacrifices and the fall feasts" focuses on the end. 4he Feast of 4ru2 ets ?the first day of the seventh 2onth@ in.( Rev .(=:A 66;3':A .:=.A .;=;..&"%&A .'=%A etc. 63 C,* Rev :='ff. and Rev .'=...& as 0ell as Rev %.-%%. 676

Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

troduced the ti2e of the year in 0hich Lud!2ent took lace and the sanctuary 0as cleansed ?Rev ..=.;-.'@. Summary 4he above 2aterial on the sanctuary back!round of Revelation indicates that Fenneth StrandGs chias2 is 0ell su orted by broad trends that s an the book of Revelation as a 0hole. 4hese trends su!!est that Hohn understood the seals and tru2 ets to cover the entire s an of Christian history fro2 his day until the Second Advent ?ho0ever lon! Hohn understood that to be@. 4he 2ain oint of difference 0ith Strand concerns 0hether the center oint of the book is Revelation ..-.% or .(-.+. 4his 2atter is not" ho0ever" a substantive difference. 4he 2aterial in Revelation .%-.( is transitional. Its !oal and focus is on the final 0rath of the nations a!ainst the re2nant ?.%=.:A .*@. But it s ends 2uch ti2e reca itulatin! the history that 0ould lead u to that cli2a7" settin! the sta!e for the final o erations of characters that have been functionin! for 2uch of the era. Be!innin! 0ith cha ter .+ the nearly e7clusive focus is on the very end of the end-ti2e.

+istoricism and t$e Seven Seals


S ace does not er2it a oint-for- oint res onse to the ar!u2ents of those 0ho feel that the ro hecy of the seals ?Rev (-;@ are intended to ortray the events of the end-ti2e. .9 4he 2ost crucial biblical ar!u2ent for this osition" ho0ever" !ro0s out of t0o observations= ?.@ It is clear that Revelation ( and + contain arallels to $aniel :" ENekiel .-.&" and Revelation .'. Since Lud!2ent is the ri2ary the2e of these arallel assa!es" it is inferred that the scene in Revelation (-+ 2ust be that of the investi!ative Lud!2ent be!innin! in .;((. ?%@ It is also clear that so2e of the i2a!ery in Revelation (-+ recalls as ects of the services on the $ay of Atone2ent. n 4hus" it 2ay be assu2ed that the entire scene is a $ay of Atone2ent ortrayal. 4hese ar!u2ents certainly 2erit investi!ation" but they do not overturn the lar!er icture outlined briefly above.
.9 For a discussion of the ro hecy of the seals" see cha . .. in this volu2e. .: 4he 5door5 of (=. can re,er to t$e door bet0een the apartments in the earthly tabernacle of the OT ?it can %e used ,or ot$er o enin!s 0ithin the sanctuary as 0ell@. T$e throne 2ay recall t$e mercy seat u on t$e ark o, the covenant. 4he t$ree stones in the early art o, Revelation ( can %e found on the breast late o, t$e hi!h riest" 0ho ministered oft t$e Day of Atone2ent. T$e four livin! creatures re2ind one o, the ,our cherubi2 in Solomon9s 4e2 le.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

For one thin!" the arallels to ENekiel and $aniel are infor2ative but do not tell the entire story. 4he Revelator alludes to other 2aLor assa!es in the 64 as 0ell..; 4he co22on deno2inator a2on! all five 64 assa!es is not Lud!2ent but a descri tion of GodGs throne. In fact" Hohn selects throne roo2 i2a!ery fro2 $aniel : and ENekiel .-.& but avoids e2 loyin! their Lud!2ent as ects..' Es ecially strikin! are the stron! differences bet0een Revelation (-+ and $aniel :. In $aniel thrones are set u ?$an :='@A in Revelation the t$rones are already there ERev (=%-(@. In $aniel 2any books are o en EDan :=.&@A in Revelation one book is sealed ERev +=.@. In $aniel the central fi!ure is Pthe son of 2anP ?$an :=.*A a ter2 the Revelator is cer tainly fa2iliar 0ithK.=.*@A in Revelation it is the Ia2b ?Rev +=9A a ter2 more a ro riate to the daily service than to the $ay of Atone2ent in any
ca0e].

As noted above" the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent in the scene of Revelation (+ is totally absentK until 9=.& 0here it is clear that Lud!2ent hasnGt yet be!un. It see2s inconceivable that Revelation (-+ could be the end-ti2e Lud!2ent scene 0hen that Lud!2ent has not yet be!un even by the ti2e t$e fifth seal is o enedV Jhile there are a fe0 allusions to the sanctuary in Revelation (-+ that can be related to the $ay of Atone2ent" there are 2any 2ore that relate to other as ects of the sanctuary and its services. 4he overall i2 ression !iven by this assa!e does not ertain to anyone a art2ent or service but su!!ests a co2 rehensive listin! of nearly every as ect of the ancient ministry* 4he above series of observations re!ardin! the sanctuary in the literary structure of Revelation stron!ly indicate that Revelation (-+ is a sy2bolic descri tion of the inau!uration service in the heavenly sanctuary that took lace in A.$. *.. Jhat follo0s the inau!uration scene has to do 0ith the entire Christian A!e" not Lust its end. Recent atte2 ts to locate Revelation ( in the first a art2ent of the heavenly sanctuary and Revelation + in the Second A art2ent founder u on the absolute lack of evidence in the te7t for any 2ove2ent of the throne bet0een the t0o cha ters. 4he t0o cha ters de ict a sin!le visionary location.
.; Isa 9A . F!s %%=.'-%%A E7od .'. .' Iaterbiblical 0riters fre1uently use earlier ins ired 0ritin!s fora different ur ose than the 2aLor intent of ihe ori!inal 0riter. %& In 0ree# the 0ords are .rima, .risis, and hinV.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

+istoricism and t$e Seven Trumpets


4he ar!u2ents for an end-ti2e inter retation of the tru2 et series ?Rev ;-..@ are so2e0hat 2ore i2 ressive than those offered for the seals series. It is ar!ued that the thro0in! do0n of the censer ?Rev ;=+@ de icts the close of robation. 4hus" the tru2 et series that follo0s ?;=:ff.@ 2ust find fulfill2ent after the close of robation. Further evidence for a ost- robation fulfill2ent is to be seen in the fact that the obLects destroyed by the first t0o tru2 etsK the earth" sea" and treesKare not to be hurt until after the sealin! of cha ter seven is co2 lete ?Rev :=.-*@. 4he third iece of evidence for a ost robation inter retation of the tru2 ets is the fact that the locust>scor ion la!ue of the fifth tru2 et is not er2itted to affect the sealed" thus su!!estin! a settin! after the close of robation ?Rev '=(@. T$ese ar!uments' o, course" ,ly directly in t$e ,ace o, the a%ove evidence t$at Bo$n had a concern ,or the C$ristian A!e as a 0hole in the ,irst $al, o, Revelation and only focused s ecifically on t$e end-time in the latter $al, o, t$e %oo#* )nder closer e amination' $o(ever' it %ecomes evident t$at t$e ar!u2ents for a ost- robation settin! ,or t$e trumpets are based 2ore on assu2 tions rather than on the actual evidence of the biblical te7t. Introductory Sanctuary Scene; Revelation =;A-6 4he 2aLor assu2 tion that lies behind the first ar!u2ent is that the introductory sanctuary scene that de icts sy2bolically ChristGs riestly 2inistry of intercession is concluded before the tru2 ets be!in. 4hus" the thro0in! do0n of the censer ?the close of hu2an robation@ recedes the events that follo0 in the cha ter. As a result" all seven tru2 ets are understood to co2e after the close of robation. 4he assu2 tion that the introductory scene is concluded before the tru2 ets be!in can be tested in t0o 0ays. First" $o the other introductory scenes ? recedin! the seven churches" the seven seals" and the seven bo0ls@ conclude before each sevenfold series be!insS 6r do they continue to re2ain in the back!round of the entire visionary se1uenceS Second" If the tru2 ets lar!ely take lace durin! robationary ti2e" 0hat evidence is there in the series to indicate that robation is still o en to hu2anityS Jhen 0e e7a2ine the introductory scenes to the sevenfold visions of Revelation" 0e discover that they not only recede the subse1uent scenes but re2ain in vie0 throu!hout. For e7a2 le" in the seven churches the in.'(

Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

troductory vision recedes the letters in the literary arran!e2ent of the %oo#' but each letter refers back to the characteristics of Christ listed in that introduction. Since the letters are 0ritten in ordinary rose" they rovide a clear indication of the authorGs literary strate!y. 4he seven seals are each o ened durin! the Ia2bGs continued activity in the heavenly throne roo2 ?Rev +-9@. 4hat scene" be!innin! 0ith the inau!uration of the heavenly sanctuary" continues throu!h the breakin! of t$e seals to the Second Co2in! and on to the ti2e 0hen all creation raises God ?Rev +=.*@. 4he introductory scene to the seven bo0ls ?Rev .+=+-;@ ortrays an e2 ty tabernacle in heaven" 0hich is certainly fittin! for the entire eriod after the close of robation. 4hus" each introductory vision rovides the settin! for the subse1uent activity and re2ains active in the back!round ri!ht u to the conclusion of the vision. Since this is so clearly the case for three of the four sevenfold visions" the burden of roof is on anyone 0ho 0ishes to ar!ue that Revelation ;=%-9 is an e7ce tion. It is 2ore likely that Hohn intended the reader to see the intercession at the !olden altar as bein! available ri!ht u to the instant the seventh tru2 et blo0s" leadin! to the finishin! of the P2ystery of GodP ?Rev .&=:@" that is" the closin! u of the !os el ?Ro2 .9=%+-%:A E h *=%-:A 9=.'@. Ot$er Evidences o, &ro%ationary Time 4he above is su orted by abundant evidence that robation re2ains o en throu!h the si7th tru2 et. 4he si7th tru2 et is e1uated 0ith the second 0oe and as such clearly runs fro2 Revelation '=.% to ..=.(. In Revelation '=.* there is a voice Pfro2 the four horns of the !olden altar %e,ore God"P a clear reference to the !olden altar of Revelation ;=*" (. T$is su!!ests that intercession is still in rocess at the ti2e the si7th tru2 et is blo0n. In Revelation '=%&" %. those 0ho e7 erience the la!ue of the si7th tru2 et fail to re ent" 0hich 2ay indicate that re entance is

still an o tion. In Revelation .&=.. the ro het lea2s that he 2ust ro hesy a!ain" so2ethin! that 0ould 2ake little sense after the close of robation. But 2ost i2 ortant" a !rou of eo le described in Revelation ..=.* as the PrestP or Pre2ainderP >hoi loipoiKthe sa2e 0ord a lied to the re2nant of Revelation .%=.:@%. P0ere terrified and !ave !lory to the God
%. Also in deliberate contrast to t$e unre entant hoi loipoi of Rev '=%&.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions of heaven.P Jhatever oint in history 0e 2ay take this to be" it is clearly an a ro riate res onse to the !os el roclai2ed by the first an!el of Revelation .(=9" : KPFear God and !ive hi2 !lory.G.%% 4hus it is evident that robation re2ains o en" and the intercession of Revelation ;=*"( continues until the end of the si7th tru2 et. 4he seven tru2 ets as a 0hole are clearly not understood to be after the close of robation.

Are the Trumpets Se1uential to the Sealin! ERev :@S


A further ar!u2ent for an end-ti2e inter retation of the seven tru2 ets notes the si2ilarity in lan!ua!e bet0een Revelation :=. -* and Revelation ;=:-'. Accordin! to Revelation : the earth" sea" and trees are not to be hurt until the sealin! 0ork is co2 leted. Since these are the very obLects affected by the first and second tru2 ets" it is su!!ested that these tru2 ets 2ust follo0 the sealin! chronolo!ically and" thus" occur in ost- robationary ti2es. Ho0ever" it should be noted that Revelation ;=% introduces a ne0 seriesA conse1uently" it is necessary to de2onstrate that the tru2 et series follo0s !hronologi!ally the literary section that recedes it. Cha ters ( and .% certainly !o back to an earlier sta!e of history. Jhy not cha ter ; as 0ellS Althou!h it is true that the obLects for destruction in the first t0o tru2 ets are rotected in Revelation :=.-*" they are also rotected in the fifth tru2 et ?Rev '=(@. 4his fact raises serious 1uestions 0hether the tru2 et series is to be related as an i22ediate se1uel to the vision of cha ter :. Even 2ore decisive" ho0ever" is the fact that the stron!est arallel bet0een the first art of Revelation : and the seven tru2 ets is in Revelation '=.(".9. In both sections bindin! and loosin! are related to four an!els. In both sections a eo le are bein! nu2bered= in Revelation : the eo le of GodA in Revelation ' their de2onic counter arts. And these are the only t0o laces in Revelation containin! the cry tic 0ords" PI heard the nu2ber Ze.ousa ton arithmon^.6 If robation re2ains o en throu!h the si7th tru2 et and then closes 0ith the soundin! of the seventh" the si7th tru2 et is the e7act historical counter art of Revelation :=.-;. It is the last o ortunity for salvation Lust before the end. 4he seven tru2 ets" therefore" do not follo0 the events of Revelation
%% In direct contrast are those in Rev .9A'0ho refer to reLect re entance and blas he2e God rather than !ive Hi2 !lory. 5ote that unre entance has advanced in .9='".. beyond the sta!e of '=%&" %..

.'9

Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

< in c$ronolo!ical order* T$e tru2 ets take their cue and co22ence2ent" instead' ,rom the introductory vision o, Revelation ;=%-9. T$e 2ain the2e o, t$at vision is intercession at t$e altar o, incense* T$is is an appropriate ,ollo(-up to t$e inau!uration o, the heavenly sanctuary as described in Revelation +. 4he book of Revelation flo0s naturally" as sho0n above" fro2 a vie0 o, t$e crossA2 to a vie0 o, the inau!uration o, C$rist9s 2inistry in the li!ht o, t$e cross ERev +@" to a picture of t$e intercessory ministry that results ERev =;2' (@" and ultimately to t$e Gud!ment that precedes the end ?Rev 66;6='67H* T$is order of events is c$aracteristic o, the entire 54 Seal o8 Dod QRev 1:H7 T$e ,inal 2aLor ar!ument ,or an end-time inter retation o, the tru2 ets rests on the o%servation t$at t$e ,i,t$ tru2 et does not affect those ($o are sealed ERev 7;:H* It is ar!ued t$at i, the sealin! is the last event %e,ore t$e close of robation" t$en the events of t$e fifth tru2 et 2ust occur a,ter t$e close o, pro%ation* T$is ar!ument' $o(ever' assu2es a num%er o, points t$at need to %e demonstrated* It assumes that Psealin!P means e actly t$e same in %ot$ conte ts* It assumes t$at Psealin!P is li2ited to t$e end-time* It assu2es t$at Ellen 8$ite9s vie(s on t$e sealin! in Revelation :=.-* apply also to Revelation 7;:* If one a roaches Revelation '=( 0ithin the lar!er 54 conte7t" these assu2 tions are difficult to sustain. 4he Greek 0ords for sealin! >sphragis, sphragi2o5 are 2ulti le in 2eanin!. For e7a2 le" 0hen a seal is laced on a docu2ent" 2essa!e" or to2b its ur ose 2ay be to conceal or to confine. An alternative 2eanin! is to certify that so2ethin! or so2eone is reliable.K But 0hen related to GodGs eo le" the redo2inant 2eanin! o, sealin! is o0nershi and acce tance by God ?Pthe Iord kno0s those 0ho are hisP@.%9 In this sense it 0as a resent reality already in the ti2e of Abraha2 ?Ro2 (=..@" If in a !iven assa!e the conte7t indicates that 0e are prior to the close of robation" the conce t of a sealed eo le 2ust be understood in the !eneral sense of those 0ho belon! to God in any a!e. 4hus" it should not %e assu2ed that the sealin! in Revelation :=.-* is identical necessarily 0ith that of Revelation '=(.
%* Rev .=+".:..;A cf. +=9"7'.%. A: #att %:=99A Rev +=."%"+"'A 9=."*"3':"'".%A ;=.A .&=(A %&=*A %%=.&. A3 Bo$n *=**A 9=%:A Ro2 .+=%;A . Cor '=%. A6 ATim %=.'A cf. % Cor .=%%A E h .=.*A (=*&.

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Seals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions

It should also not be assu2ed that the sealin! of Revelation :=.-* is li2ited to the end-ti2e. Revelation :=.-* does not e7 licitly li2it the sealin! to the end-ti2eA it 2erely focuses on the si!nificance of sealin! 0ork in an end-ti2e settin!. Related to this is the observation that 0hatever Ellen Jhite understood by Revelation :=.-*" she never 1uotes Revelation '=( in an end-ti2e conte7t" thus it is un0ise to assu2e 0hat she herself never stated. Summary It is" therefore" clear that the ar!u2ents 2any have utiliNed to lace the tru2 ets in an end-ti2e settin! do not carry the 0ei!ht necessary to overturn the lar!er ers ective outlined in the first art of this cha ter that the tru2 ets cover the entire Christian A!e.

Conclusions
In this brief cha ter 0e have co2bined a nu2ber of te7tual observations to de2onstrate that the ro het Hohn had t0o !reat ers ectives in 2ind 0hen he 0rote out his visions. In the first half of the book he focused on the Christian Era as a 0hole" 2ovin! fro2 his ti2e to the end. In the second half of the book he delineated ri2arily the events of the end. 4his insi!ht arallels the attern of the other t0o !reat Pa ocaly ticP assa!es of the 54= #atthe0 %( ?and its arallels" Iuke %.A #ark .*@ and % 4hessalonians %. Each of these assa!es contains a section that focuses first on the Christian A!e as a 0hole. %: 4hese sections are follo0ed then by s ecial attention to the cli2a7 at the end. %; 4hus the book of Revelation" ri!htly understood" is in erfect har2ony 0ith the theolo!y and literary ractices of the 54 even thou!h its lan!ua!e is 1uite uni1ue. 4he thrust of the evidence brou!ht forth in this cha ter is the reco!nition that the consensus of the Seventh-day Adventist ioneers on the seals and tru2 ets" thou!h 2arred by so2e historical inaccuracies and li2ited e7e!etical insi!hts" nevertheless 0as accurate in its erce tion that the seals and the tru2 ets 0ere intended by Hohn under ins iration to cover the entire Christian A!e and not Lust the end of that a!e.
%: Cf. #att %(=*-.( and % 4hess %=*-:. %; A T$css %=;-.%A #att %(=%*-+.A cs . vss* %:-*.. It should be noted that this double ers ective is articularly clear in Iuke 0here the Pti2es of the GentilesP ?Iuke %.=%(@ for2sa brid!e bet0een the descri tion ofA.$. :& and the !eneral realities of the Christian A!e ?Iuke %.=:-%*@ and the descri tion of the end-ti2e ?Iuke %.=%+ff.@.

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C$apter /I T$e Seven Seals


Hon 8aulien
Editorial Synopsis* As o%served in t$e DARCOM Report ?cha ter ' in this volumeH' t$e scenes ortrayed on earth at the seIuential breakin! o, the ,irst si7 seals occur across the C$ristian Era* A t$rone scene in t$e heavenly sanctuary-Revelation9s ortrayal of t$e inau!uration o, Hesus at +is ascension as a P8rince and a SaviourP at the 1at$er9s side ?Acts +=*." DBVH.is the $istorical settin! for C$rist9s rece tion o, t$e sealed scroll. 1rom t$is oint in time +e be!ins to %rea# t$e seals" one %y one. A 2aLor key for unlockin! the sy2bolis2 in the book of Revelation is the i2a!ery Hohn dra0s fro2 the 64 to describe the content of his visions. 4he resent 0riter rovides a hel ful tool in this res ect by a endin! three tables of 64 allusions that i2 act on the ro hecy of the seals. A fourth table" co2 arin! Revelation 9 0ith HesusG a ocaly tic ser2on in the Gos els" is also included. Althou!h the sealed scroll is never o ened in robationary ti2e" its identity is i2 ortant to the inter retation of this section of the !eneral ro hecy. 4he resent 0riter su!!ests that the scroll should be understood as related to the book of Revelation itself. 4hus" the scroll that the Father hands to the victorious Ia2b to o en and read ?+=.-:@ is the sa2e as the PrevelationP God !ives to Christ of Pthin!s 0hich 2ust shortly co2e to assP ?.=." FH3A cf. .=.'@. In that case the scroll contains not only the history and destiny of the 0orld and the church" but also GodGs lan to deliver His eo le and to resolve the 2oral controversy that has torn the unity o, +is creation. T$e lan!ua!e of t$e seals contains stron! allusions to t$e covenant curses or Lud!2ents that threatened Israel upon her reLection of 0od* At t$e sa2e time t$e e7 eriences occurrin! at t$e openin! of eac$ seal parallel in a stri#in! 2anner the events ,oretold by our Lord on t$e Mount o, Olives ?#att %(-%+A Mar# 62J Lu#e %.@Kevents t$at (ould ta#e lace prior to t$e fall o, Berusalem and rior to +is return and t$e end of the (orld* 4hus" the successful reachin! of the !os el ?0hite horse@ results not only in victories for the kin!do2" but is follo0ed by ersecutions" divisions" and ?for those 0ho reLect His !race" increasin! s iritual fa2ine and decline@. 4he fifth seal records the cry of the .''

4he Seven Seals 2artyrs for divine Lustice" 0hereas the si7th dro s the sy2bolis2" as it 0ere" and sketches in bold strokes the events that oint to the a roachin! !reat Pday of the Iord.P Jhile the ro hecy of the seals briefly surveys the success and trials of the Pchurch 2ilitant"P it kee s resent before the eye of faith the !reat truths that the Ia2b of God" the Iion ofHudah" has revailed over the forces of evil at Calvary and is resently rei!nin! 0ith His Father. All thin!s are under His control. In His hands is the destiny of hu2ankind.

C$apter Outline
I. Introduction II* 0eneral E7e!esis III. Introductory Sanctuary Scene I3. Breakin! the Seals 3. 4ables of Allusions ?.-(@

Introduction
In recent years the ro hecy of the seven seals of Revelation has e7cited increasin! interest a2on! Seventh-day Adventist astors and lay eo le. In this cha ter 0e e7a2ine the 2aLor issues that arise fro2 the te7t of Revelation (-9. It is ho ed that this brief introduction 0ill sti2ulate careful analysis of the assa!e and rovide !uidance to future study. Since no inter retation of the seals has so decisively settled the issues as to be selfevident to all honest seekers" no inter retation of the seals ?includin! this one@ should beco2e a center of theolo!ical controversy.

0eneral E e!esis
4he assa!e o ens 0ith an invitation to Hohn to Pco2e u P throu!h an o en door into heaven itself ?(=.@. 4here he is er2itted to vie0 the throne of God surrounded by the heavenly court ?(=%-;@. In a scene of unutterable raise and devotion ?(=;-..@" the P6ne sittin! on the throneP is adored for His holiness and His role in the creation of all thin!s. 4he 0orshi scene is interru ted by a 2o2ent of crisis. A scroll of !reat i2 ortance in the hand of the enthroned #onarch cannot be o ened unless a P0orthyP individual is found to break its seven seals ?+=.-(@. Christ" de icted as a Pslain la2bP and ronounced 0orthy" resents Hi2self and takes the scroll fro2 the ri!ht hand of the 6ne sittin! on the throne ?+=+2$$

4he Seven Seals :@. 4his act calls forth an even !reater crescendo of raise to both the Ia2b and the 6ne sittin! on the throne ?+=;-.(@. 4he i2 ression is left that this is" erha s" the 2ost decisive 2o2ent in the history of the universe. 4he scene no0 turns to the Ia2bGs successive breakin! of the scrollGs seven seals ?9=.-.:@. Jhile a sealed scroll cannot be read until all seals are broken" the action of breakin! each seal tri!!ers fri!htful events on earth. T$e breakin! of the first four results in the a earance of riders on horses 0hose actions roduce increasin! disunity and distress u on the earth ?9=. ;@. 4he breakin! of the fifth and si7th seals hi!hli!hts the sufferin! of the 2artyrs and the cos2ic si!ns that lead u to the end ?9='-.:@. 4he cha ter concludes 0ith a sole2n 1uestion in the face of the !reat day of the 0rath of God and the Ia2b= Jhat hu2an bein! Pcan stand before itP ?9=.:@S T$e ans(er is o,,ered in c$apter <* 8$en t$e (inds of strife blo0 u on t$e eart$' t$ose mar#ed on t$e forehead (it$ t$e seal o, the livin! 0od (ill %e sheltered ?:=.-*@. T$ese 5standin! ones5 are descri%ed by a air of ima!es; 6::'MMM composed o, 6A'MMM ,rom each o, t$e .% tri%es of Israel E<;:-=H' and an innumera%le multitude ,rom every tri%e on earth ?:='-.:@. 8$et$er t$ese t(o desi!nations represent one !rou or t0o" they clearly portray t$e totality o, t$ose ($o are s$ielded ,rom the !reat day o, 0rath. T$ey Goin t$e $eavenly court in praise ?:='-.%@ and in service before the t$rone E<;6:-6<H*

Seals in Conte t
State2ents of introduction and conclusion are of 2aLor i2 ortance in understandin! any biblical book. It is articularly i2 ortant" 0here Revelation is concerned. 4he ro het Hohn has a techni1ue of artfully e2beddin! each of his introductory su22aries in the recedin! section" usually at t$e cli2actic spot* For e7a2 le" 0hile the sufferin! of the souls under the altar ?9='-..@ rovides a ointed cli2a7 to the 0ar" fa2ine" and estilence se1uence of the four horse2en" the ans0er to their cry" PHo0 lon!" & IordSP a0aits the la!ues of the seven tru2 ets ?cf. ;=*-+".*@. Iike0ise" the five central conce ts of ..=.; beco2e the orderin! rinci le of cha ters .% throu!h %%.. 4he third an!elGs 2essa!e ?.(='-.%@ cli2a7es GodGs res onse to the attack of the dra!on and his allies. At the sa2e ti2e" ho0ever" the lan!ua!e oints for0ard to .+=. 0hich introduces the bo0l la!ues. Revelation %.=.-; func. 4his is 0orked out in 2ore detail in 2y book &e!o$ing Revelation+s Trumpets ?Berrien S rin!s" #I" .';;@" **:-*'.

%&.

4he Seven Seals tions as %ot$ the clima of t$e vision of t$e thousand years and as the introduction to t$e detailed description o, t$e 5e0 Berusalem* Sprin!%oard passa!e; Revelation 2;A6* 4he key to the lar!er si!nificance of 2ost ortions of Revelation is" therefore" often located in a recedin! cli2a7 state2ent. Jith that in 2ind" it should co2e as no sur rise that the best startin! oint for a study of the seals and their conte7t is Revelation *=%.. Althou!h the assa!e functions as the cli2a7 of all the ro2ises to the overco2er ?Rev %-*@" its lan!ua!e rovides a su22ary overvie0 of the content of the seven seals= To the one ($o overco2es I (ill !ive t$e ri!ht to sit 0ith me on 2y throne" Aust as I also overcame and sat do(n 0ith my 1at$er on +is throne. In this te7t Christ ro2ises to re0ard the over!omer >ho ni"wn^ 0ith a share in His throne. An analo!y to this action ?PLust asPK hos5 is the over!oming >eni.esa5 of Christ that resulted in His Loinin! the Father on His throne. Fro2 the stand oint of the ro het" the believerGs overco2in! is described as a resent on!oin! e7 erience" * but their sittin! on ChristGs throne is future >$Mso5. By 0ay of contrast" both ChristGs overco2in! >eni.esa5 and bein! seated >e.athisa5 are s ecific ast-ti2e events.( 4he FatherGs throne ?(=%ff.@" the overco2in! of Christ >eni.esen, +=+@" and ChristGs Loinin! the Father on His throne ?+=9ff.@ are the central the2es of Revelation ( and +. 5ot until Revelation : are the redee2ed e7 licitly er2itted to Loin in the reLoicin! and the 0orshi of the heavenly court ?:='-.%@. Hust as the re0ard of the saints is related to ChristGs in Revelation *=%." so the t0o throne scenes of Revelation + and :='ff. are related" althou!h e1ually se arated chronolo!ically.+

% /nless other0ise s ecified" all 1uotations fro2 the NT te7t are the 0riterGs o0n translation. * 4he 0ree# resent artici le e7 resses action as a continuous rocess. : "ot$ verbs are 0ree# aorist indicatives and e7 ress ast action as oints in ti2e rather than a rocess. + 5otice the literary arallels bet0een the t0o scenes= &ev I,F< Rev P,F< 8ort$y is the slain Ia2b to receive power A2en. Blessing and glory and wis$om and and riches and wis$om and strength and 66 G GG honor and glory and blessing thanks and honor and o0er and strength to our Dod forever and ever? ;ev e:#L Sal_ation to our Dod to the =ne sittin0 on the throne and to the La+/? Rev &:#) To the One sittin! on the throne and to the Lam% be blessing and honor and glory and 2i!ht "orever an$ ever.

2$2

4he Seven Seals 4he introductory scene of the seals ?Rev (-+@ is" therefore" an elaboration of the latter art of *=%. ?concernin! ChristGs overco2in! and enthrone2ent@. 4he raise scene of :='-.: fulfills the ro2ise that the overco2er 0ill Loin Christ on His throne. Bet0een the t0o throne scenes is cha ter 9. 4herefore" the seals of cha ter 9 corres ond to the assertion of *=%. ?Pto the one 0ho overco2esP@A they s an the ti2e fro2 the overco2in! of the Ia2b to the re0ard of the sealed. 4he seals of cha ter 9 have to do 0ith the on!oin! eriod in 0hich 0od9s eo le are in the rocess of overco2in!. Since the 2any ro2ises to the overco2er ?%=:" .." .:" %9A *=+" .%" %.@ are offered to the seven churches of first-century Asia #inor" the eriod of their overco2in! had already be!un in HohnGs day and 0ill continue until all GodGs eo le have Loined Hesus on His throne. Location o, t$e seals* Jhat event did the ro het have in 2ind for the be!innin! oint of the sealsS 4he e7 ressions PI over!ame,P PI sat $own,P Phe over!ame6 rovide 2arkers to oint us back to ChristGs death" resurrection" and inau!uration as Hi!h 8riest in the heavenly sanctuary. 9 4he cross-centered nature of this overco2in! is confir2ed by the Pne0 son!P of the four livin! creatures and the %( elders ?+='@= Mou are 0orthy to take the book and to o en its seals because you were slain w$pur!hase$ for God 0ith your blood so2e fro2 every tribe and lan!ua!e and eo le and nation and ma$e the2 a kin!do2 and riests to our God and they 0ill rei!n on the earth. In t$is son! t$e 0ree# tense o, t$e verbs: re,ers %ac# to t$e Christevent and its conseIuences* It is t$e slain Ia2b ($o' %y means o, +is %lood' purc$ases $umanity and o,,ers it a ne( status in +im* It is t$e cross t$at $as made C$rist 5(ort$y5 ?+=%A c,* +='@ to ta#e u +is (or# for our salvation in the $eavenly sanctuary* It is the deat$ o, C$rist that provides t$e %asis for t$e %eliever9s overco2in! ?.%=..@. Since t$e events o, Revelation < ,all at the close o, eart$9s history"; ($ereas t$e emp$asis o, the t$rone scene in Revelation + is on ChristGs deat$' it is evident t$at Revelation 9 is a visionary descri tion of events on
9 4he 0ree# verbs >eni.Ssa, e.alhisa, PI overca2e... sat do0n"P *=%.A eni.esen, Phe overca2e"P +=+@ are aorist indicative" indicatin! s ecific events in ast ti2e. : PMou 0ere slainP >esphagSs5, Pbou!htP >egorasas5, P2adeP >epoiesas5. ; 4hey are in the conte7t of the !reat day of the Iord ?Rev 9=.%-.:@ and the sealin! ?Rev :=.-*@.

2$3

4he Seven Seals earth between the cross and the Second Co2in!. 4here is a articular focus on the !os el of Hesus Christ and on the eo le 0ho acce t and roclai2 that !os el. Structural &arallels It is essential for the inter reter of Revelation to be sensitive to the other arts of the book that 2ay relate to the assa!e under study. In the book of Revelation the key to the 2eanin! of one assa!e 2ay lie at the o osite end of the ro hecy. Dennet$ Strand $as concluded t$at t$e 1irst .( c$apters of t$e book function in chiastic parallel to the last ei!ht c$apters*7 Bo$n9s choice of lan!ua!e su!!ests to hi2 t$at Revelation (-: is paralleled ri2arily by t$e 2aterial in Revelation 67 ?althou!h ele2ents in :=.+-.: are closely related to %.=*"(@..& Buildin! on Strand9s (or#' I care,ully co2 ared t$e lan!ua!e of cha ters (-: 0ith t$at o, cha ter 67*66 T$ere appear to %e four 2ain clusters of arallel (ords and ideas. 8ors$ip scenes. 4he first cluster involves the 0orshi scenes. 4he only assa!es that co2bine the four livin! creatures" the %( elders" GodGs throne" and scenes of raise and 0orshi are found in Revelation (" +" :" and .'. .% 6ther co22on ele2ents in these cha ters include the 0ords chosen to raise God .* and the !ar2ents 0orn. In cha ters ( and +" 0od and t$e Ia2b are praised ,or t$eir activity in Creation and at t$e cross ?(=..A 3;7'.%@. "ut in c$apters < and 67 t$ey are raised for redee2in! t$e !reat 2ultitude at t$e close o, t$eir tribulation ?:='-.(@ and ,or destroyin! !reat end-ti2e "a%ylon E67;6-=H* T$is confir2s t$e position that t$e scene in Revelation (-+ ertains primarily to the be!innin! of t$e Christian Era" but t$ose of Revelation : and .' focus on the end of t$at era. +orse scenes* 4he second 2ain cluster ties the activities of the four
' For a dia!ra2 of he0 this 0orks for the 0hole book see Fenneth A. Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, %nd ed. ?5a les" 1L' .':%@" +%. For a 2ore li2ited su22ariNation of StrandGs analysis" see cha s. .-* in this volu2e. .& Sec StrandGs fairly detailed chart in ibid-" (9. 4here are other oints of connection 0ith the seals in Revelation" articularly in cha . .(" but these are far less e7 licit than those in cha . .'. .. Jhile various Adventist 0riters have sou!ht lo find arallels to cha s. .;" %&" and %." these have tended lo focus on the2atic arallels thai fall short of bein! convincin! de2onstrations of HohnGs intention. Revelation 9 and .' contain a 2ultitude of verbal and the2atic arallels u on 0hich to build our e7a2ination. .% Rev (=9-..A +=;-.(A :='-.(A and .'=(. .* Cf. the lan!ua!e of Rev (=;"..A +=.%".*A :=.&".%A .'=."9" :. .( $ifferent 0ords are used to describe essentially si2ilar !ar2ents in (=(A 9=..A :='".*A .'=;".(. 2$4

4he Seven Seals

horse2en ?9=.-;@" articularly the first" 0ith the horse and rider in .'=..-.+. 4he co22on ele2ents include the 0hite horse" the cro0n" and the s0ord. .+ 4he 2ost strikin! arallel is that of the 0hite horse" a sy2bol a earin! no0here else in Revelation. T$e i2a!ery in both cases has to do 0ith con1uest. In 9=%" ho0ever" the Greek 0ord for Pcro0nP >Stephanas5 i2 lies a re0ard for victory. But the Greek 0ord in .'=.% >$ia$emata5 indicates a royal cro0n" i2 lyin! the ri!ht to rule. In its conte7t ?see belo0@ 9=% hi!hli!hts the victory on the cross and its conse1uences" 0hile .'=..-.+ hi!hli!hts the final con1uest of evil at the second co2in! of Christ" 0hen Christ literally takes over His kin!do2. 4his arallel si!nals the 2ove fro2 establishin! ChristGs ri!ht to rule in heavenly laces ?cha s. (-+@ to de2onstratin! that ri!ht to rule on earth at His return ?.'=..-.+@. 4he 0hite horse of cha ter 9 sy2boliNes the victory of Christ in the s read of His invisible kin!do2 throu!h the reachin! of the !os el. 4he 0hite horse?s@ of cha ter .' sy2boliNes the total subLu!ation of evil by Christ at His second co2in!. Bud!ment 4he third cluster of arallels connects the fifth seal ?9='-..@ 0ith Revelation .'=."%. 4he for2er is a call for Lud!2ent >.rineis5 and ven!eance >e.$i.eis5 on those 0ho d0ell on the earth. 4he latter roclai2s that Lud!2ent >.riseis, ehinen5 and ven!eance Xe0e$i.esen^ have been carried out on Babylon" the end-ti2e e1uivalent of those 0ho tor2ented the 2artyrs throu!hout the Christian Era. 4he ti2e of Lud!2ent and ven!eance 2entioned in Revelation .' does not refer directly to anythin! in the seals" but su22ariNes the e7 licit content of Revelation .;" 0hich in turn builds on Revelation .: and .(=;-... 4hus" the rise of end-ti2e Babylon and its Lud!2ent and destruction fall bet0een the ti2e of the fifth seal and the rocla2ation of Revelation .'=%. 6f the four 2ain clusters of arallels bet0een the seals and Revelation .'" the third is the 2ost direct and co2 rehensive" 0ith seven verbal arallels bet0een .'=% alone and 9=.&-.. ?ten if .'=. is included@. .: Day o, (rat$* Finally" the fourth cluster involves a arallel bet0een those 0ho are terrified on the day of 0rath ?9=.+-.:@ and those 0ho are consu2ed in GodGs end-ti2e ban1uet ?.'=.:-.;@. Since these t0o events
63 T$e 0ord used in .'=.+" %. for Ps0ordP is hromph$ia, used only in 9=;" but not in 9=( ?ffuic>2ya@. 66 T$e ter2 is lural ?2any cro0ns@. .: Since .'=. $as nine verbal arallels o, its o0n 0ith :='-.%" the relevance of .'=.-% to the seals is certainly indis utable.

2$5

4he Seven Seals a ear to be the sa2e" it 2ay be safe to conclude that the si7th seal cli2a7es 0ith the !rueso2e destruction described in .'=.:-%.. 4he above e7a2ination su orts the !eneral observation ?Strand@ that the ro hecy of the seals covers the broad s0ee of Christian history" 0hile the 2aterial in cha ter .' focuses on the final events leadin! u to the consu22ation of that history. 4his does not rule out the obvious fact that ele2ents of this historical se1uence 2ay in their order focus on the end as art of that historical s0ee . 4he evidence su!!ests that the fifth and si7th seals definitely Plean to0ard the endP and oint to0ard the sa2e cli2a7 referred to in Revelation .'. 6n the other hand the four horse2en ?9=.-;@ take their cue fro2 the cross and its conse1uences" 0ith e2 hasis on the earlier art of the Christian Era.

Introductory Sanctuary Scene


T$rone-Centered 4he 0ord PthroneP >thronos5, re resentin! the ri!ht to rule" is undoubtedly the key 0ord in Revelation (. It a ears .( ti2es. Still central to the sceneGs activity" it a ears five ti2es in the ne7t cha ter. It al2ost disa ears fro2 vie0 in cha ter 9 ?one ti2e@" but returns in :='-.: 0ith an e2 hasis co2 arable to its osition in cha ter ( ?seven ti2es in only nine verses@. 4hus" cha ter ( sets the sta!e for the heavenly activity in cha ter +" 0hile :='.: is an e7tension of cha ters ( and + in its rene0ed focus on the throne. 4he throne nearly dro s fro2 vie0 in cha ter 9 because that cha ter is concerned 0ith events on earth..; 4he throne" therefore" is clearly central to the visionary descri tion ?Rev (-+@. .' It is the first thin! Hohn sees in heavenA after that" all activity is oriented to it. %& Althou!h the 0ord PthroneP nor2ally is linked 0ith God in the book of Revelation" it can be associated 0ith Satan and his cohorts as 0ell. %. 4hus" the centrality of the throne in this ortion of Revelation
.; Astron! literaiy tie" nevertheless" connects cha . 90ith cha s. ( and + in thai cveiythin! that takes lace in cha . 9 is connected 0ith the Ia2bGs o enin! of the sealed book and fre1uent references are 2ade to the four livin! creatures. .' 6tto Sch2itN" Pthrones"P in T&NT * ?Grand Ra ids" .'9(@= .9+. %& Activity takes lace Pon the throneP >epilon thronon -(=%"("'".&@" Paround Z"ot.loihen sn$"ail$""^ t$e throneP ?(=*"("9@" Pout fro2 Ze.[ t$e throneP ?(=+@" Pin front o, Zenopion[ the throneP ?(=+" 9".&@" and Pin the 2idst Zen mesS^ o, t$e throneP ?(=9@. %. Rev %=.*A .*=%A .9=.&. The 0ord is also a lied to the %( elders ?(=( Tt0iceU and ..=.9@ and to the 2artyrs ?%&=(@. 8$ile the Greek of %&=( is difficult" t$e thrones a ear to be there for the use of the 2artyrs in a (or# o, Lud!2ent >hima5. 5o such Lud!2ent task is !iven to the elders in

2$6

4he Seven Seals hi!hli!hts its concern 0ith the controversy bet0een God and Satan over the do2inion of the universe.K 4he o enin! verses of Revelation + ortray a crisis oint in the develo 2ent of that controversy. 4he re2ainder of the cha ter asserts that the death of Christ has !uaranteed the outco2e of that controversy" and that the e7alted Christ no0 shares the throne of God.%* Sound o, Sin!in! 4here is deliberate ro!ression of thou!ht in the five hy2ns of this introductory scene. 40o hy2ns are addressed to the Father ?(=;" ..@. 4he ne7t t0o are addressed to the Ia2b ?+='-.&" ..-.%@. 4he fifth and final hy2n is addressed to both the Father and the Ia2b ?+=.*@. 4hat the e1uality of raise is the e7 licit hi!hli!ht of this backdro is evident fro2 the ever-increasin! volu2e of artici ants. 4he hy2n of (=; is sun! by the four livin! creatures alone. 4he hy2n of (=.. is sun! by the %( elders. 4he hy2n of +='-.& is sun! by both the livin! creatures and the elders. Jith the hy2n of +=..-.%" scores of 2illions of an!els Loin the heavenly choir. 4he fifth and final hy2n ?+=.*@ is sun! by all creation. 4his ever-increasin! artici ation indicates that it is heavenGs !reatest Loy to e7alt Hesus Christ even as His Father is e7alted ?cf. Hohn +=%*@. 4he all-enco2 assin! lan!ua!e of +=.* su!!ests that this final hy2n is role tic ? ortrayed in advance@= the entire universe in raise to God ?cf. 8hil %='-II@.%( 4herefore" 0hile the scene of cha ter + hi!hli!hts the enthrone2ent of Christ at the be!innin! of the a!e" it also oints for0ard to the universal reLoicin! at the end.

Sanctuary Scene 5o sin!le ele2ent of Revelation ( is dra0n e7 licitly fro2 the 64 sanctuaryA yet the cu2ulative effect of allusions reflects a stron! re2iniscence of that sanctuary and its services. Je enu2erate the evidence. 4he 0ord for PdoorP >thura, (=.@ a ears over %&& ti2es in the Greek OT ?IDD@" scores of 0hich relate directly to the sanctuary.%+ 4ru2 ets ?(=.@ 0ere used in 0orshi as 0ell as battle ?5u2 .&=;-.&@. It is ossible
c$aps* ( and 3J they do" ho0ever" en!a!e in so2e sort of intercessoiy tas# ?+=;@. AA B* Massyn!%crdc Ford" Revelation, A"' 2= E0arden City" 5M" .':+@" :9. A2 Rev 2;A6J c,* +=9-.(A :=.+".:A %%=."2* Sc$mitF' 666-6<* A: 1ord' 73A3 Cf. E7od %'=(".&-..A Lev .=*"+A . F!s 9=*.-*%"*(. As a readin! o, t$e listed assa!es s$o(s' the (ord itself !ives no in,ormation on 0hich sanctuary door mi!$t %e in vie(*

2$7

4he Seven Seals that the throne ?(=%@ 0as intended to recall the ark of the covenant ?cf. ..=.'A 8s ''=.@" but that cannot be assu2ed. It 2i!ht corres ond to the table ofshe0bread in the holy lace"%9 since the table is the only article of sanctuary furniture not 2entioned e7 licitly in Revelation. 4he three recious stones ?(=*@ are also found in the breast late of the hi!h riest ?E7od %;=.:-%. @.%: 4he %( elders re2ind us of the %( courses of riests in the 4e2 le ?. Chr %(=(-.'@. 4he seven la2 s >lampa$es, (=+@ 2ay recall the candlestick in the holy lace" althou!h a different Greek 0ord is used. %; 4he sea of !lass ?(=9@ 2akes use of the Greek 0ord >thalassa5 a lied to the P2olten seaP in Solo2onGs 4e2 le ?. F!s :=%*-%(@. 4he ro7i2ity of the four livin! creatures ?(=9;@ to the throne in ENekiel . and .& re2ind us of the cherubi2 associated 0ith the ark of the covenant ?E7od %+=.;-%&A . F!s 9=%*-%;@. Cherubi2 0ere" ho0ever" visible also in the holy lace ?E7od %9=., *.-*+@. He0ish tradition also associates the lion" calf" 2an" and ea!le 0ith the four banners or standards around 0hich #oses or!aniNed the Israelite enca2 2ent in the 0ilderness ?cf. 5u2 %@. In cha ter + 2any of these i2a!es are re eated" 0ith so2e additions. 4he slain Ia2b ?+=9@" re2iniscent of Isaiah +*=:" re2inds us of the 2o2-in! and evenin! sacrifices ?E7od %'=*;-(%@ or the 8assover Sacrifice ?. Cor +=:@. 4he blood of the Ia2b ?+='@ rovides the 2eans to urchase the eo le of the earth for God. 4hey in turn serve God in analo!y to the riests of the 64 sanctuary ?+=.&@. 4he %( elders hold !olden bo0ls of incense 0hich are inter reted as the rayers of the saints ?+=;@. Both the incense and the rayers of the saints are associated 0ith the continual 2ornin! and evenin! sacrifices of the sanctuary. %' 5o assa!e in Revelation contains a lar!er 1uantity or a 0ider variety of allusions to the sanctuary than this introductory sanctuary scene. 4here 0ere only t0o occasions in the Hebre0 cultus 0hen the entire sanctuary 0as involved= the $ay of Atone2ent and the service of inau!uration ?cf. E7od (&@. Inas2uch as Revelation (-+ resents such a stron! sanctuary scene" to 0hich of these rites should it be linkedS Since *=%.
%9 C. #ervyn #a70ell" 'o$ (ares < ?Boise" ID' .';+@A .9*-9:. #a70ell desi!nates the throne of (=%" Pthe table-throne.P %: 4he connection 0ith the hi!h riestGs breast late is enhanced by the fact that the sardius 0as the first stone listed in the Hebre0 of E7od %; and the Las er the last. 4hus all the tribes arc re re. sented in the stones of the oldest and the youn!est sons of Hacob ?Ford" :." ;+@. In the Greek ?IDD@ of E7od %;=%." the breast late is said to be PsealedP >sphragi$on5 0ith the na2es of the .% tribes. %; 4he Greek 64 0ord for the candlestick is lu!hnia, the 0ord used in Rev .=.%".* %& %' Cf. &s .(.=%A E7od %'=*;-(*A *&=:-;A Iuke .='-.&. 2$"

4he Seven Seals associates t$is scene 0ith the cross and t$e ent$ronement o, C$rist' since t$e lan!ua!e of Pte2 leP 9naos6 and 5Gud!ment5 Ec,* 66;6=-67H is a%sent' and since the i2 licit structure o, Revelation places t$e Day o, Atonement in the latter $al, o, t$e %oo#'2M t$e %est identi,ication ,or the introductory sanctuary scene in c$apters (-+ is t$e service o, inau!uration* 4hus" 0e conclude that the scene is best understood as a ortrayal of the inau!uration of the entire heavenly sanctuary in A-$. *.. In ;=*-+ the author focuses 2ore s ecifically on the daily services associated 0ith the first a art2ent of the sanctuary. Iater" in ..=.' the ark of the Second A art2ent is clearly brou!ht to vie0. Old Testament Allusions In an a endi7 to this cha ter are a series of tables. Included in table . are 64 assa!es Hohn likely had in 2ind as he described the scene in Revelation (. An e7a2ination of table . indicates re eated arallels to three !reat throne-visions of the 64= Isaiah 9A ENekiel .-.&A and $aniel :='-.(. In fact" only t0o 2aLor ele2ents in the Revelation scene are not found in the2" na2ely" the %( elders and the creation hy2n ?(=("..@. 4he three 64 visions are rou!hly e1ual in their i2 ortance to Revelation (" 0ith ENekiel . holdin! a sli!ht ed!e in influence. 4here is also a relationshi to t0o earlier throne-oriented assa!es of the 64A the vision of#icaiah ?. F!s %%=.'A % Chr .;=.;@ and GodGs a earance at Sinai ?E7od .'=.9-%(@. In addition" a nu2ber of ele2ents resent in this scene are not found in any of the 64 Pthrone-visions.P *. 4herefore" althou!h ENekiel and $aniel are of 2aLor si!nificance to Revelation (" only about a third of the 2aterial in the cha ter reflects the2. Revelation ( arallels a 0ide variety of sources in its descri tion of the heavenly court. Cha ter + builds on t$e scene in c$apter :* T$ere,ore' most o, t$e key OT t$rone assa!es contri%ute little or not$in! ne( to t$e scene.** Daniel
*& See recedin! cha . .&" PSeals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscussions.P *. 4hese include the Pthin!s 0hich 2ust ha en after these thin!sPA the three stones of vs. *A the %( eldersA the seven la2 sA the hrase PIord" God Al2i!htyP ?used in the 0ree# OT,or the +e%re( PIord" God of HostsP@A the hrase" 5+im 0ho lives foreverPA and the a robation of God as the Creator of all thin!s. *% It is also ossible that Hohn 0as a0are of . Enoch .(=;-%+" a assa!e about %&& years older than Revelation that also is re2iniscent of ENekiel and $aniel. For the te t of . Enoch in En!lish see Ha2es Chartes0orth" ed.. Dl$ Testament 4seu$epiyapha . ?Garden City" 5M" .';*-.';+@= .*-;'. ** See table % for a list of direct allusions to t$e OT in Rev +. A ossible contribution fro2 ENek .-.& is the book 0ritten on the inside and on the back" 0hich can be found in EFe# %='-.&. E7odus ,contributes the conce t of GodGs eo le asa kin!do2 of riests ?Rev+=.&@. Isaiah 9 and . F!s %% have no additional contribution at all.

2$.

4he Seven Seals

:" ho0ever" rovides the 2ost ro2inent stru!tural arallel. For e7a2 le" $aniel : de icts God on the throne" books o en for Lud!2ent" the co2in! of the Pson of 2an"P the besto0al of do2inion over the earth" the resence of the saints" as 0ell as 2ulti lied 2yriads of the heavenly host. Revelation +='-.( see2s to be structured on 2aLor 2ove2ents in $aniel :=.*-%:. First" the Son of 2an receives do2inion ?$an :=.*-.(A cf. Rev +=9'@. 4hen eo les" nations" and 2en of every lan!ua!e are 2entioned ?$an :=.(A cf. Rev +='@. 4hen the eo les receive do2inion ?$an :=.;" %%" %:aA cf. Rev +=.&@A and finally" control over all thin!s is returned to God ?$an :=%:bA cf. Rev +=.*-.(@. 4here are" ho0ever" si!nificant differences bet0een $aniel : and Revelation +. #any intervenin! ele2ents in $aniel are left out and 2any other ele2ents are added in Revelation. *( In $aniel the books ? lural@ are o en before the Son of 2an a ears on the sceneA in Revelation the book ?sin!ular@ is never o ened in the vision. Althou!h Hohn is fa2iliar 0ith the $anielic ter2 PSon of 2anP for Christ ?Rev .=.*@" he deliberately avoids usin! it here. Rather" he refers usin! the titles Ia2b" Iion of Hudah" and Root of $avid instead. In actuality" in s ite of so2e !eneral si2ilarities" less than a 1uarter of Revelation + is dra0n fro2 $aniel :. #ost strikin! of all" ho0ever" is the fact that Hohn studiously avoids the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent in this throne scene. In the Greek lan!ua!e Lud!2ent is usually e7 ressed by the nouns .risis and .rima, and the verb .rinM.BI As the references indicate" Hohn is 1uite fa2iliar 0ith the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent but deliberately avoids usin! it in the first half of the book of Revelation. 4he see2in! e7ce tion ?9=.&@ is not a descri tion of the Lud!2ent" but a call for that Lud!2ent to be!in. In contrast to the rest of the miA 0here the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent is so2eti2es a lied to the cross ?cf. Hohn .%=*.A Ro2 ;=*@ and the reachin! of the !os el"*9 the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent in Revelation is reserved for descri tions of end-ti2e events ?Rev .%-%&@. Je 2ust resist the te2 tation" therefore" to assu2e that since $aniel : and ENekiel .-.& involve investi!ative Lud!2ents. Revelation (-+ 2ust
*( Si!nificant ele2ents of cha . + such as t$e Iion of Hudah" the Root o, David' the slain Lam%' the seven eyes" t$e ascendin! incense" the ne0 son! and the three-tiered universe ?Rev+=.*@ arallel ot$er OT settin!s. One #ey concept' P0orthy"P may not be %ased on t$e OT at all. *+ Frisis, Rev .(=:A .9=:A .;=.&A 67;AJ .rima. Rev .:=.A .;=%&A %&=(A lamM, Rev 9=.&A 66;6=J .9=+A .;=;"%&A .'=%"..A %&=.%-.*. *9 C,* Hohn *=.;.%.A +=%%-%+A '=*+,..

%.&

4he Seven Seals like0ise be an investi!ative Lud!2ent scene. Hohn" in fact" !enerally avoids those arts of $aniel and ENekiel that involve Lud!2ent. Rather" he concentrates on those arts offerin! fa2iliar lan!ua!e 0ith 0hich to describe the heavenly throne-roo2. For e7a2 le" ENekieFs throne scene ?ENek .".&@ is re eatedly aralleled in Revelation (. But Lud!2ent ortions" like ENekiel ' ?2ark on forehead@" co2e into lay not in the introductory scene but in :=.-;" a clear end-ti2e settin!. 4he %( elders are !iven an intercessory task ?+=;@" but not a Lud!2ental one ?like the 2artyrs of %&=(@. 4he crisis of cha ter + is resolved not by Lud!2ent" but by the death of the Ia2b. 4o s eak thus is not to deny that the cross itself 0as an act of Lud!2ent ?Hohn .%=*.-*%A Ro2 ;=*@. If Hohn had 0ished to e2 hasiNe the Lud!2ent as ects of the cross" it 0ould have been easy for hi2 to do so. But Hohn deliberately avoids usin! that kind of lan!ua!e. *: 4herefore" as si!nificant as the structural arallels to $aniel and ENekiel are to this scene" they do not re1uire us to su!!est that any ortion of the heavenly events in Revelation (-+ ortray the end-ti2e" readvent Lud!2ent4his survey of 64 back!rounds to the first introductory sanctuary scene in the book de2onstrates the e7tent to 0hich Revelation dra0s fro2 ele2ents in its literary back!round. It also de2onstrates ho0 the Holy S irit acka!es these ele2ents in creative 0ays" resultin! in a fresh and ori!inal roduct. 4he inter reter 2ust" therefore" avoid a rando2 search of back!round sources for sy2bols that can be lu!!ed in at 0ill. Sy2bols by their varied nature are fluid in 2eanin!. 4heir articular si!nificance 2ust be deter2ined by the i22ediate conte7t" and not necessarily by their use in a revious conte7t. Jhere the authorGs oint is not lain fro2 the i22ediate conte7t" the inter reter 2ay seek clues in the the2es and conte7t of back!round assa!esA but such PcluesP should never %e er2itted to undo the 2eanin! of te7ts 0hich are reasonably clear in their o0n ri!ht.

C$urc$ Series Sets t$e Tone


Before be!innin! a 2ore detailed analysis of the introductory vision to the seals it 2ay be hel ful to consider the role and function of the introductory scenes in Revelation. 4he best startin! oint for such an analysis is the introduction to the seven churches ?.='-%&@. It sets the attern" in
*: T$ere arc actually fe0 assa!es of the 64 that are not associated 0ith Lud!2ent in some sense. Hohn" ($ile dra0in! on so2e of these" has !one out of his 0ay to hel the reader avoid raisin! the 0ron! inferences fro2 that lan!ua!e.

%..

4heSeven Seals relatively clear lan!ua!e" for 0hat Hohn 0ill do in 2ore cry tic fashion fro2 cha ter ( on. T$e introductory scene to t$e seven c$urc$es provides t$e theolo!ical %asis ,or t$e letters to t$e seven c$urc$es ERev A-2H* Besus co2es to com,ort Bo$n (it$ a revelation o, +imsel, ?.=.:-.;@. 8$at +e has done for Bo$n +e 0ill do ,or all t$e c$urc$es t$at Bo$n re resents ?/'-%&@.*; Christ resents Hi2self to each church in ter2s of the characteristics listed in the first cha ter.*' 5o church is offered all His characteristicsA it receives only those a ro riate to its condition. In this 2anner the introductory scene re2ains in the back!round of the readerGs consciousness throu!hout the letters to the churches. #any characteristics of Revelation recall the dra2as of the ancient" GrecoRo2an 0orld.(& 4he sanctuary scenes at the be!innin! of 2ost sections of Revelation function as the sta!e settin!s for the res ective acts of the dra2a. (. Each" therefore" is intended to be constantly in vie0 throu!hout the section that it introduces. 4he scenes rovide the theolo!ical un-der!irdin! for all that follo0s in that section of the book. 4hey are not to be understood as co2 leted before the follo0in! block of 2aterial be!ins. A si2ilar literary attern can be found in the seals section of the book ?(=.-;=.@. 4he introductory scene ?Rev (-+@ is re eatedly recalled in cha ter 9 throu!h the breakin! of the seals ?9=."*"+" :"'".%@ and 2ention of the livin! creatures ?9=.-;@. 4he events of cha ter 9 result fro2 the successive acts of breakin! the seals. Since the son! of +=.* can only be truly fulfilled in the ne0 earth ?Rev %.-%%@" the introductory scene is conte2 orary 0ith the entire s an covered by the seals ?9=.;=.@. 4he central focus of Revelation + is the cross of Christ ?+=+" 9"7' .%A cf. *=%.@. ChristGs overco2in! on the cross rovides the theolo!ical basis for the events of cha ter 9" 0hich is concerned 0ith the eo le of God as they seek to overco2e by His blood ?cf. .%=..@. 4hus" the seals e7tend fro2

*; 5otice the si!nificance of the PthereforeP >owi5 in vs* .' in the 0ree# te7t" linkin! HesusG 2inistry to Bo$n9s 2inistry to the seven churches throu!h the book Hohn 0ill (rite for Hi2. *' &lease note the follo0in!= cf. .=.*".9 cf. .=.:".; c,* .=.9 cf. .=.(..+ cf. .=(".9 cf. .=.; E hesis %=. S2yrna 2H" 8er!a2u2 %=.% 4hyatira %=.; Sardis *=. 8hiladel hia 3H7 Kaodicca *=.( (& Hohn 8ic# Bo02an" PRevelation" "oo# of"P +" (=+;-:.. (. Rev .='-%&A :*3J ;=%-9A ..=.'A .+=.-;. Ibid." 9*-9(.

%.%

4he Seven Seals the cross and enthrone2ent of Christ to the end of the !reat controversy %et(een Christ and Satan 0hen the entire universe 0ill be filled 0ith a co2 lete har2ony of raise to God ?+=.*A cf. :='-.:@.

T$e Creator 0od


After this I sa0" and behold a door had been o ened in heaven and the first voice 0hich I had heard ?s eakin! 0ith 2e in tru2 et-like tones@ said" PCo2e u here" and I 0ill sho0 you the thin!s 0hich must ha en after this.P Rev (=.

+eavenly Sanctuary Scene* 4he ro hecy of the seals o ens 0ith an introductory scene in 0hich Hohn ascends into the heavenly sanctuary. 4he o en door >thura "neDgmerie5 is re2iniscent of the o en door >thuran Vne'gmenSn5 of access to Christ that bolsters the 8hiladel hia church in its 0eakness ?*=;@.(% 4he tru2 etlike voice recalls HesusG revious a earance to Hohn ?.=.&@. 4he hrase P0hat 2ust ha en after thisP (* deliberately recalls the ur ose of Revelation ?.=.".'@. Hesus states that the Pthin!s 0hich are and the thin!s 0hich are about to ha en after thisP are the substance of the book of Revelation ?.=.'@. Revelation .=. indicates that the e2 hasis is u on the latter@. 4he absence of the Pthin!s 0hich areP in (=. tells us t0o thin!s= ?.@ the letters to the churches focus ri2arily on the ori!inal situation of HohnGs ti2e rather than on later history" ( and ?%@ 0ith cha ter ( 0e are 2ovin! to the 2ain e2 hasis of the bookKthe events to take lace after the ti2e
A9

of the vision. Y| Seen in this li!ht" the literary connection bet0een the Po en doorP of *=; and (=. does not resu ose an end-ti2e settin! for the throne scene in Revelation (-+.
:A Adda Kar%ro Collins" The po!alypse, 5e0 4esta2ent Messa!e' vol. %% ?Jil2in!ton" DE' .':'@" %:"*(. :2 A maGor ver%al parallel to Dan %=%;"%'"(+" in t0o different 0ree# Old 4esta2ents" the Se tua!int EL//H and T$eodotion* (( In Rev .=. t$e p$rase Pthin!s 0hich 2ust ha enP >ha $eiynesthai5 is follo0ed not by Pafter thisP 9#eta tauta5 %ut %y PshortlyP or PsoonP ?en la!hei5. In Rev .=.' P2ustP >$ei5 is re laced by Pabout toP 9#e%%ei65 5t$in!s ($ic$ arc about to ha en after this.P :3 T$at the letters to t$e churches $ave a ri2ary intent in the ori!inal situation in no 0ay e7cludes the validity o, t$eir ro hetic sy2boliNin! of certain as ects of church history across the Christian Era* :6 T$e future orientation o, Rev : and subse1uent cha ters does not rule out flashbacks to events in the ast ?such as the birth of Christ" .%=.-+@ or to descri tions of the !rounds u on 0hich Christ 0ill act in t$e future ?such as the descri tion in Rev 3H*

%.*

4he o en door" throu!h 0hich Hohn ascends into the heavenly courts" enables hi2 to PseeP the Prevelation of Hesus ChristP that 0ill result in the roduction of his book. It is not" therefore" strainin! the te7t to su!!est that cha ter ( rovides an introduction not only for the seals but for the rest of the book of Revelation. PIn the s iritP ?(=%@ see2s to be HohnGs 0ay of introducin! a visionary se1uence ?cf. .=.&A .:=*A %.=.&@. 4he tense of the Greek verb translated in the 5ASB" P0as standin!P >e.eiio5,:P attests that the ro het does not understand the throne to be recently set u " but rather to have been continually in that lace until that ti2e. 4his is in contrast 0ith $aniel :=' 0here thrones are P lacedP or Pset u "P (; a clear si!nal that Hohn does not erceive this scene to be a du licate of that found in $aniel. 4his heavenly sanctuary vision offers a series of i2a!es that hi!hli!ht the !lory of the scene ?Rev (=*-9a@. 4here are recious stones" a rainbo0" thunder and li!htnin!" seven la2 s" a crystalline sea of !lass" and %( elders 0ho sit on thrones around the throne dressed in 0hite robes and 0earin! !olden cro0ns Xstephanoi5 on their heads. Jho are these %( eldersS 4hey are 2entioned .% ti2es in Revelation.(' 4he fact that the nu2eral %( is the su2 of t0o sets of .% 2ay su!!est a link 0ith the 5e0 Herusale2Gs .% !ates na2ed after the .% tribes of Israel an$ .% foundations na2ed after the .% a ostles of the Ia2b.+& A connection 0ith the .(("&&& ?.% ti2es .%@ 2ay also be indicated. 4he %( elders a arently re resent e7alted and redee2ed hu2anity. 6verco2in! believers share GodGs throne" not an!els ?*=%.@. Jhite robes nor2ally are 0orn by the saints in Revelation.+. And the !olden cro0ns are not royal cro0ns X$ia$emata, cf. Rev .'=..@ but cro0ns of victory Xstephanoi5, articularly a ro riate to the redee2ed and Christ.+%
(: A Greek i2 erfect indicative o".eimai ?lie" recline@. T$e tense e presses on!oin! action" like t$e resent tense" but in ast ti2e. (; 4he 0ree# 64 does not use e.eito in Dan :='" but e2 loys the aorist for2 oiti"h%mi >set u or lace@" i2 lyin! the act of settin! the thrones in osition. (' Rev (=(".&A +=+"9.;"..".(A :=..".*A ..=.9A .(=*A .'=(. +& It is interestin! to note that the 0alls and foundations are 2entioned t(ice' and eac$ time in relation to each other ?%.=.%-.(".'-%.@. T$is is evidently intended to dra0 t$e readerGs attention to the relationshi bet0een the t0o sets of .%. +W Rev *=(" +".;A 9=..A :='".*".(. In this" of course" they 2odel after Christ ?Rev .=.(@. A ossible e7ce tion is Rev .'=.(" ($ere those 0ho acco2 any C$rist at +is 8arousia are dressed in ($ite* T$e 0ree# 0ord for P0hiteP is not used in Rev .'=;" althou!h t$at te7t undoubtedly su orts the earlier references to believers in 0hite robes. +% Rev %=.&A *=..A .%=.A .(=.(. And also to His counterfeit ?cf. Rev '=:@. It 2aybe of articular interest to Seventh-day Adventist readers that there arc a nu2ber o, contrastin! literary connections bet0een the %( elders and the letter to the Iaodiceans" 4he elders arc in a 0orshi -relationshi 0ith Hesus in heavenly laces" the earthly Iaodiceans are re ulsive to Besus* 4he elders (ear

%.(

T$e Seven Seals 4his evidence of their hu2anity is further su orted by the back!round evidence. An!els never sit on thrones any0here in the Bible or in early He0ish literature. +* Christians" on the other hand" 0ho have royal functions+( can be so de icted.++ 4he 0ord for Pvictory cro0nsP >stephanoi5 is used of ChristGs cro0n of thorns +9 and that of believers and their re0ard.+: An!els never 0ear the2.+; 5either are an!els called elders" althou!h this is a co22on desi!nation for the leaders of both syna!o!ue and church.+' 4he %( elders" therefore" a ear to be hu2an bein!s e7alted to heaven rior to the consu22ation of all thin!s. 4hey are robably to be identified 0ith the individuals raised at the resurrection of Christ. 9& 4hey sy2boliNe 0hat all believers can beco2e in Christ.9. Livin! creatures* 4he full si!nificance of the four livin! creatures ?(=9b-;@ beco2es evident only 0hen they are seen in the li!ht of HohnGs literary back!round" a to ic that cannot be e7 lored here for lack of s ace. As heavenly throne-creatures" they introduce the first hy2n sun! in the throne-roo2" the threefold PholyP ?(=;@. 4his hy2n is stron!ly re2iniscent of .=(";. PJheneverP >hotan5 the four livin! creatures raise the Father sittin! on the throne" the %( elders fall do0n in 0orshi " cast their cro0ns before the throne" and sin! a son! of their o0n ?(='-..@. 4he 0ord P0heneverP 2akes it clear that this scene in cha ter ( is not a articular oint in ti2e ?such as A.$. *. or .;((@. Rather" it ortrays the on!oin! nature of heavenly 0orshi . Cha ter ( is not a one-ti2e event" but the basic settin! for all activity in the heavenly throne-roo2. In cha ter + on the other hand a !reat crisis strikes the heavenly court. 4he eldersG son! in (=.. be!ins 0ith a 0ord that 0ill beco2e central to the resolution of that crisis=
0hite !arments' t$e Laodiceans are naked and are called to urchase suc$ !arments* 4he ciders (ear !old" the Laodiceans lack it* T$e elders have Goined 0od on +is throne" the Laodiceans are promised such status i, t$ey overco2e. T$e elders arc totally God-focused" the Iaodiceans are sel,-satis,ied* T$e elders are inside an o en door 0ith Hesus" the Laodiceans are inside a shut door' 0ith Besus standin! outside* T$e literary i2 act of t$is comparison e7 ressed a call to t$e Laodiceans to 2ove throu!h t$e open door into heavenly places in C$rist Besus* +* A. Feuillet" PIcs vin!t-1uatre viellards dc .GA ocaly se.P RB 9+ ?.'+;@= :. +( . 8et %='-.&A Rev .=9A +='-.&. ++ Matt .'=%;A Iuke %%=*&A Rev %&=(. +9 #att %:=%'A #ark .+=.:A Hohn .'=%"+. +: &$il (=.A . T$ess %=.'A % Tim (=;. +; I%id* 37 I%id*' 7-6:* 9& #att %:=+%-+*A E h (=;. 66 Rev *=%.A .%=..A cf. E h A;6* A63

The Seven Seals


Mou are worthy, our Iord and God" to receive !lory and honor and o0er" because you created all thin!s" and by your 0ill they 0ere created and have their bein!.

4he elders ascribe ulti2ate 0orth to God on the !rounds that" as Creator" He is the source for the e7istence of all creation. 9P 4hus cha ter ( is brou!ht to its !lorious cli2a7 0ith no hint of the crisis to follo0. Crisis and Resolution Revelation + 2oves fro2 the !eneral descri tion of the throne-roo2 and its activities to a articular oint in ti2e 0hen a crisis develo s. 4he crisis is a decisive" one-ti2e event. But it is overco2e by the death of the Iion>Ia2b" resultin! in universal reLoicin!. Althou!h the throne is resent" it is 2entioned less fre1uently than in cha ter (.}P5o0 the literary focus is on a scroll >biblion5, its seals >sphragi$asH the Ia2b >amion5 and the issue of 0ho is 0orthy >a0ios5 to break the seals and o en the scroll. T$e seven-sealed scroll* A 2aLor roble2 for the inter retation of this section of Revelation ?(=.-;=.@ is the identity and si!nificance of the sevensealed scroll.9( Jhen eo le are sealed ?in Revelation@" the sealin! functions as a 2ark of rotection or a si!n of GodGs o0nershi ?:=%A '=(A cf. .(=.@. 9+ But 0hen a book or a 2essa!e is sealed" conceal2ent nor2ally is in vie0 ?%%=.&A cf. .&=(@.99 Jhat is the 2ysterious content of the scrollS It a ears to have so2ethin! to do 0ith the overall ur ose of the book of Revelation ?.=.-%@=
9% Collins" *:" 62 0od continues to sit on >epi5 the throne ?+=.":".*@" the Ia2b a ears Pin the 2idst of >en >nero@ the throne ?+=9@" and a host of an!els around >.u.liS5 the throne ?+=..@ Loin the elders and the four livin! creatures in raise to t$e Ia2b. 9( T$e seven-sealed book is clearly a scroll ?cf. Rev 9=.(@ not a code7" 0here a!es are stitched to!et$er at a central bindin!. 9+ Gottfried FitNer" Ps hra!is" s hra!iNo" katas hra!iNo"P in T&NTP ?Grand Ra ids" .'9(@= '+.. 99 Ibid." '+&.

%.9

4he Seven Seals 4he revelation of Hesus Christ" 0hich God !ave Hi2" to sho0 to his servants the thin!s 0hich 2ust soon ha en" and +e si!nified it sendin! it throu!h his an!el to His servant Hohn" 0ho testified concernin! the Jord of God and the 4esti2ony of Hesus Christ" 0hich he sa0.

4he book of Revelation ca2e into bein! by a threefold rocess. God handed PrevelationP to Hesus Christ" 0ho conveyed it in sy2bol throu!h an an!el to Hohn. Hohn then assed on to the church" in the for2 of a Pbook Xbiblion^ of ro hecyP ?%%=:" .&" .;" .'@" the thin!s that he had seen. 9: 4hus" it is a strikin! arallel 0hen in cha ter + God hands a PbookP Xbiblion5 over to Hesus. 4he content of the trans2ission is su22ed u articularly in .=. by the hrase Pthin!s 0hich 2ust soon ha en"P that is" future events. 4hese considerations" co2bined 0ith the nu2ber of arallels bet0een .=(-; and (=.;"9; leave the i2 ression that the scroll of cha ter + is the content of Revelation itself. 4hus" it 2ay be inferred that the sealed scroll contains the destiny of the 0orld" and the ur ose and lan of God to deliver His eo le at the end of ti2e" and to resolve the 2oral controversy in the universe. 4his future action of God is fi7ed in His ur ose ?0ritten do0n in a le!al docu2ent@" but is 0ithdra0n fro2 hu2an kno0led!e ?sealed@A 9' hence HohnGs 0ee in!. 4hankfully" it can be o ened as a result of the cross. &ossi%le OT allusions* Si!nificant back!round infor2ation offers other ers ectives on the 2eanin! of the scroll. :& 40o 64 settin!s lace scrolls in a Lud!2ent conte7t. 4he unrolled scroll 0ritten on t0o sides in ENekiel con9: Althou!h the term 5%oo# o, ro hecy >ies propheieias tou bibliw5 is not used in t$e i22ediate conte7t o, Rev 6;6-A' vs. * talks a%out Pthe 0ords of this ro hecyP 0hich arc 0ritten do0n" and vs* .. talks about P0rite ($at you $ave seen in a book.P So t$e %oo# o, Revelation 0as 2ediated by a rocess 2ovin! fro2 0od to C$rist to Bo$n to the 0ritten book. 9; E*!*' such parallels as t$e One ($o Pis and 0as and is to co2e"P t$e Al2i!hty" and the seven s irits before t$e throne. 9' Gottlob Schrenk" Pbiblion"P in T&NT I ?Grand Ra ids" .'9(@= 9.'. :& Sec Schrenk" 9.;-.'" ,or anot$er su22aiy of back!round considerations to t$e sealed scroll. Cf. also $ou!las Jaterhouse" 5T$e Openin! of the Seven Seals' Rev (=.-;=."P un ublished a er" Andre(s /niversity" .';*"2A-23* %.:

4he Seven Seals

tains P0ords of la2entation" 2ournin! and 0oe"Pa0arnin! of the Lud!2ents about to fall u on Hudah ?%='-.&@. 4he !i!antic fiyin! scroll 0ritten on both sides of<echariah contains the curses of God a!ainst the fla!rant sinners in the land ?+=.-(@. 4he scrolls" ho0ever" are already o en 0hen the ro hets see the2" so the arallels are not fully convincin!. 40o other ossible back!rounds relate to 2atters of inheritance. Ro2an 0ills 0ere sealed by si7 0itnesses and the testator. :. And in Here2iahGs ti2e 0ritten scrolls !uarantee that his urchase of land accordin! to the la0 of the go+elP< 0ill be valid even after the return fro2 Babylonian e7ile ?*%=9-.+@. Both ideas are attractive. As a 0ill" the scroll could be o ened and its instructions carried out because of ChristGs sacrificial death. As a deed of urchase" the scroll 0ould re resent the title deed to the 0orld. HohnGs 0ee in! ?(=(@ 0ould reflect the forfeiture of that inheritance as a result of sin. 4hrou!h His death the Ia2b redee2s the forfeited inheritance and" thus" is 0orthy to break the seals and restore the ri!htful o0nershi . :( As attractive as these ideas are" and as true to the 54 conce t of the cross" they are not carried throu!h consistently in the book of Revelation. If in 2ind here" they 2ay function only as a literary device. :+ Another sealed scroll is found in Isaiah ?%'=..".;A *&=;@. Iike Revelation" the scroll of Isaiah contains the 2essa!es of the ro het hi2self. 4he absence of a stron! structural arallel bet0een Isaiah %'-*& and Revelation + 2akes it less than certain" ho0ever" that Hohn 0as dra0in! on Isaiah for his descri tion of the sealed scroll. 4he enthrone2ent i2a!ery of cha ter + is 1uite co2 atible 0ith another 64 conce t. At the coronation of a ne0 Israelite kin!" the scroll of the covenant ?$euterono2y@ 0ould be resented to hi2. :9 4he rece tion of the scroll and the ability to o en and read de2onstrated the ri!ht to rule and to deal 0ith any crisis that 2i!ht occur. It 0ould have been hel ful to our understandin!" ho0ever" if the ossible allusion to $euterono2y had been 2ore e7 licit.
:. See' e-!-" FitNer" '+&A Schrenk" 9.;-.'A Fenneth Strand" Interpreting the Boo. o" Revelation, %nd ed. ?5a les" 1L' .';%@" ++. :% Accordin! to this la0" a erson in dan!er of losin! $is inheritance could a eal to a ne7t of kin to urchase the ro erty and thereby kee it in the fa2ily until such a ti2e as he could afford to buy it back. Sec the story of Ruth. :* Schrenk" 9.;-.'. :( See Jaterhouse" **. :+ FitNer" '+&. :9 $eut .:=.;-%&A % F!s ..=.%-.:A %*=%-*A Jaterhouse" *%. %.;

4he Seven Seals So2e have ar!ued that the sealed scroll should be identified 0ith the Ia2bGs book of life ?.*=;A %.=%:@. Since this is t$e only book in Revelation 0hose content is clearly identified" it is 0orth consideration. 4he content of the sealed scroll" ho0ever" see2s to be broader than that of the book of life. 8ossible 5e0 4esta2ent allusions* A 2ore ro2isin! back!round" erha s" is the 54 conce t of P2ysteryP >mus"Srion5. In the 54 the ter2 P2ysteryP is al0ays used in an eschatolo!ical sense. :: It 0ould only be revealed in the last days. But since Hesus is the #essiah" the last days have already co2e.:; 4he a ocaly tic kin!do2 has beco2e a resent reality.:' 4herefore" the fullness of the !os el" thou!h hidden for a!es" has no0 beco2e an o en 2ystery.&& 4o announce the 2ystery of God ?. Cor %=.@ is to reach Christ crucified ?. Cor .=%*A cf. %=%@. But even thou!h the 2ystery is o en to the follo0ers of Hesus" it is closed to those 0ho do not kno0 Hi2 ?#att .*=..A #ark (=..A Iuke ;=.&@. Further2ore" certain as ects of that 2ystery are not yet fully disclosed even to the believer. ;. Althou!h in one sense the last days have co2e in the Christ event" in another sense" they are also yet future. ;% Revelation shares the 54 tension bet0een 0hat has already been revealed in Christ" and 0hat can only be 2ade kno0n at the end. ;* In the PdaysP of the seventh tru2 et the P2ystery of GodP 0ill be co2 leted ?.&=:@. 4he crisis in the universe ?+=.-(@ is reci itated by the co2bined rebellion of Satan and his cohorts in heaven and the hu2an fa2ily on earth. 4he scroll is the heavenly book of destiny" containin! the substance of GodGs ordained lan to 2eet that crisis. As such it 0ould include all the infor2ation disclosed in Revelation" $aniel" and 2ore. Because of His sacrificial death" the Ia2b is able to set in 2otion events that 0ill brin! history to its foreordained conclusion.;( 4he series of the seven seals" nevertheless" ortrays a eriod 0hen GodGs ur ose re2ains" to a lar!e de!ree" hidden fro2 earthly vie0 ?cf.
:: 1or a thorou!h discussion of this 0ord see 0unt$er "om#amm' 5musterion5 in <srb: E0rand Ra ids" .'9(@= ;&%-;%;. :; +e% .=%A '=%9A . 8el .=%&A . Hohn %=.;. :' #att .%=%%.%;A .*=%(-%9"*.-**A Lu#e ..=%&-%%A .:=%&-%.. ;& Ro2 .9=%+-%:A . Cor %=:-.&A E h *=*-.&A 9=.'A . 4i2 2;66* ;. Ro2 ..=%+A W Cor .*=%A c,* .%= E h .='-.&. ;% #att 9=.&A %+Alff.A *.,9A Iuke .*=%;-%'A .'=..A Hohn 9=*'"(&"(("+(A ..=%(A .%=(;A ATim *=.A 6 &et .=+A % 8et *=*. ;* A related NT conce t is that of the t0o a!es. 4he ro2ised 64 a!e to co2e is understood as a resent reality in Christ ?#att %;=%&A Rom .%=%A % Cor (=(A 0al .=(@ alt$ou!$ its ,ullness is consu22ated only in the future a!e to co2e ?E h %=:A +e% 9=+@. ;( CollinsA Strand" ++A Robert H. #ounce" The Boo. o" Revelation, NICNT ?Grand Ra ids" .'::@" .(%-(*.

%.'

T-eSevenSeals

9='-..@. But fro2 cha ter .& on" that ur ose is to be clearly revealed throu!h the 2essa!es of the three an!els and the visible events of the consu22ation. T$e Lam%4s Iuali,ications* 4hat the universe is in crisis beco2es evident fro2 the descri tion in this assa!e. God has a book in His hand that can be o ened only by a fit erson. But no such erson is found" leadin! the ro het to 0ee . 4he 1uestion PJho is 0orthySP calls for uni1ue 1ualifications.;+ Accordin! to +='".&".% the Ia2bGs uni1ue 1ualifications derive fro2 the fact that He 0as slain and thus enabled to redee2 hu2anity 0ith His blood. Davidic dynasty reesta%lis$ed* 4lie Iion of Hudah sy2bolis2 is" of course" based on the ro2ise ofrulershi to the tribe of Hudah ?Gen ('='-.&@. Co2binin! this 0ith the sy2bolis2 of the PRoot of $avidP yields the idea that the enthrone2ent of the Ia2b i2 lies the reestablish2ent of the eternal $avidic dynasty ro2ised in the 64 ;9 4he Ia2b is the ro2ised #essiah. 4hus" Hesus is understood to have reestablished the $avidic dynasty 0hen He roclai2ed the arrival of His kin!do2 ?#att .%=%;A Iuke .:=%&-%.@. 4he first i2 ression is that the Ia2b had been slain ?vs. 9" h""s esphagmenon5. Ho0ever" the Ia2b 2oves to take the book" 2akin! it clear that His death has been overco2e ?vs. :A cf. .=.;@. 4he Ia2b then roceeds to Loin God on His throne" receive the 0orshi of the heavenly host" and take over the !overn2ent of the 0orld ?+=.%-.(A .:=.(A .'=.9A %%=*@. Finally" at the conclusion of the ro hecy" the Ia2b 2arries the 5e0 Herusale2" sy2bolic of the Christian co22unity ?.'=9-;A %.='ff.@;: 4here can be no 1uestion that for Hohn" the Ia2b is the e7alted Christ of Revelation .-*" 0ho is 1ualified to take the book" not only on account of 0hat He had done ?His death on the cross@" but on account of 0ho He is. 4hus" i2 licit in the te7t is the full divinity and hu2anity that the Ia2b had to e2body in order to carry out the rede2 tive task. 4he Ia2bGs hu2anity is evident in that He 0as slain. His divinity is evident in that He is e7alted to the throne of God to receive the 0orshi of all creation. ;; 4he seven horns of the Ia2b recall 64 i2a!es of olitical and>or 2ilitary o0er.;' 4he seven eyes of the Ia2b recall <echariahGs vision
;+ 8eraer 1oeistcr' Pa7ios"P in T"NT 6 E0rand Rapids' 676:H; *:'. ;9 % Sa2 :A . Chr .:A Dan '=%(-%:A Lu#e .=*%-**. ;: Hoachi2 Herc2ias" Pa2ion"P in <A8T 6 E0rand Rapids' 676:H; *(.. == Rev 2;A6J 3;<-6:* ;' Deut **=.:A Dan :=;"%."%%"A:J ;=*-.%A Collins* (.. !!:

4he Seven Seals

?(=.&@ in 0hich the Iord Hi2self has seven eyes to scan the 0hole earth. '& "y these t0o sy2bols the all- o0erful" all-kno0in! deity of the Ia2b is clearly established. So2e su!!est that 0hen Hesus takes the book fro2 the Fathers hand" it i2 lies that He has 2oved fro2 the first a art2ent into the Second A art2ent of the heavenly sanctuary. "ut there is no hint any0here in the i22ediate vision that the throne of God is 2oved. 5or are the Ia2bGs 2ove2ents si!nificant to the scene" since He already stands Pin the 2idst of the throneP ?+=9@. It is best to understand the vision of cha ters ( and + as a sin!le scene in a sin!le lace in the heavenly sanctuary. 4he e7act location does not see2 to be critical to the inter retation of the vision. A ne( son!* 4he idea of sin!in! a Pne0 son!P of raise to God is co22on in the 64 5e0 son!s are sun! to raise God for a recent deliverance"'. for acts of salvation and Lud!2ent" '% or for His creative o0er 0hich is 2anifest continually on earth in fresh 0ays. '* Such a ne0 son! is entirely a ro riate in the 0ake of GodGs !reatest act of all ti2e" the atonin! death of Hesus Christ ?+=;-.&@. 4he royal riesthood ?vs. .&@ is based on GodGs declaration to Israel that the nation 0as to have a s ecial riestly role ?see E7od .'=+-9@. 4irou!h Israel" Mah0eh lanned to brin! the blessin! of Abraha2 to all the nations ?Gen .%=.-*A %%=.;@. In Christ that rivile!e is transferred to t$e church. 4hus" Revelation +='-.& declares the follo0ers of Christ to be a 5e0 Israel" 0ith a 0orld0ide role of do2inion and blessin!. 4his do2inion is an out!ro0th of ChristGs do2inion that 0as established as a result of the cross ?Rev +=.*A cf. #att %;=.;@. In verses ..-.( the crescendo of raise reaches a 2a!nificent cli2a7. All the intelli!ent creation raise both the Ia2b and the Father sittin! on the throne. Jhile a ro riate in the conte7t of the enthrone2ent of Christ at His ascension" the final hy2n e7tends beyond the banish2ent of sin and its effects to the day 0hen all creation 0ill live to raise the $eity ?cf. 8hil %='-..@.

7M I%id* 76 8ss (&=.-*A .((='-.&A Isa (%=.&-.*. '% 8ss '9=.-%A ';=..%A .('=.-'. 72 &s 22;6-7J Isa :A;3'6M* 7: #att %.=(*"6 &et %='-.&A Gal *=%'A 9=.+-.9.

%%.

4he Seven Seals

"rea#in! t$e Seals


In cha ter 9 the throne" the scroll" and even the Ia2b fade lar!ely fro2 vie0. 4he oint of connection 0ith the introductory sanctuary scene is the o enin! or breakin! of the seven seals that bind the scroll. 4he events delineated do not disclose the contents of the book. But as the Ia2b o ens each seal" certain events take lace on earth.

Structural &arallels to t$e Old Testament Covenant curses. Je found the 2ain structural arallels to cha ters ( and + in the throne-visions of the 64. 6n the other hand cha ter 9 recalls the covenant curses in the 8entateuch and their e7ecution in the conte7t of the Babylonian e7ile.'+ 4he conce t ofGSvar" fa2ine" and estilenceP ori!inated in the blessin!s and curses that cli2a7ed the Holiness Codes '9 of the 8entateuch. 4he covenant curses of Ieviticus %9=%.-%9 contain 2any arallels to the four horse2en of Revelation 9=
If you re2ain hostile to0ard 2e and refuse to listen to 2e" I 0ill 2ulti ly your afflictions seven ti2es over" as your sins deserve. I 0ill send 0ild ani2als a!ainst you"... I 0ill brin! the s0ord u on you to aven!e the breakin! of the covenant.... I 0ill send a la!ue a2on! you" and you 0ill be !iven into ene2y hands. Jhen I cut off your su ly of bread" ten 0o2en 0ill be able to bake your bread in one oven" and they 0ill dole out the bread by 0ei!ht. Iev %9=%.-%9" 5I3

'+ See table * fora list of ossible direct allusions to the OTin Rev 6* T$e items 2arked by an asterisk are cited by at least three 2aLor co22entators. 4he others are added by the author because they s$ed so2e li!$t on t$e lan!ua!e o, Rev 6* '9 Leviticus .:-%9 is #no(n to scholais as the +oliness Code* It contains a series of detailed co22ands relatin! to daily li,e in the li!ht of the covenant bet0een God and Israel* Ieviticus %9 offers re0ards and punis$ments ?blessin!s and curses@ for obedience and disobedience to the stipulations of the +oliness Code* A arallel section of 2aterial can be ,ound in Deut .%-*&" ($ere a series of detailed commands ?.%-%9@ is also follo0ed by blessin!s and curses ?%:-*&@. Althou!h not technically art of the blessin!s and curses" the son!s of #oses in $eut *% and 22 continue those the2es (it$ many arallels to Lev %9.

222

4he Seven Seals

Jar" fa2ine" estilence" and 0ild beasts are reli2inary Lud!2ents ,rom God" intended to brin! about re entance ?3ss. %:" (&-(%@ so that 0od`s blessin!s 2ay be restored.': Further rebellion" ho0ever" 0ill result in desolation and e7ile" the ulti2ate curses of the covenant ?vss. %;-*'@. $euterono2y *% has 2any arallels to Ieviticus %9. 3erses %*-%+ are about unish2ent for IsraelGs idolatry. 3erses (.-(*" ho0ever" 2ove beyond Ieviticus %9. Here the IordGs s0ord and His arro0s are e7ercised to aven!e His eo le=
Jhen I shar en 2y flashin! s0ord and 2y hand !ras s it in Lud!2ent" I 0ill take ven!eance on 2y adversaries and re ay those 0ho hate 2e. I 0ill 2ake 2y arro0s drunk 0ith blood" 0hile 2y s0ord devours flesh=... ReLoice" & nations" 0ith his eo le" for he 0ill aven!e the blood of his servants. $eut *%=(.-(*" 5I3

Jhen e7ercised u on His eo le" the s0ord" fa2ine" and estilence are reli2inary Lud!2ents intended to lead the2 to re entance. Jhen e7ercised u on nations 0ho have shed the blood of His eo le" they are Lud!2ents of ven!eance ?cf. the fifth seal@. Jar" fa2ine" and estilence beco2e stereoty ed i2a!es in the ro hets" 0ho use the2" as threats to 0ard off Israel and HudahGs increasin! a ostasy.'; Failin! to re ent" both divisions of the nations rea ed the ulti2ate curseKe7ile. Jith the E7ile" ho0ever. GodGs attention is directed increasin!ly to0ard the nations 0ho are afflictin! His eo le. 4he Lud!2ents that had been directed to0ard the2 are no0 turned a!ainst their ene2ies. 4he !reat turnin! oint in that rocess is dra2atiNed in <echariah ?.=;-.:A 9=.-;@. 4he settin! is a laintive cry for hel fro2 the an!el of the Iord=
': In ractical ter2s" 0ar" fa2ine" and estilence are the lan!ua!e of a sie!e 0ith its resultin! fa2ine" e ide2ics" and death. 7= Ber .+=%-*A EFe# +=.%-.:A .(=.%-%*A and +a% *=%-.9 have sufficient arallels to Ihe seven seals to su!!est t$e ossibility" but not the certainty" that the revelator 0as a0are of the2 as he 0rote Rev 6. 4he centrality of s0ord" fa2ine" and estilence a2on! the curses of the covenant in Leviticus and Deuteronomy a ears to have led to a stereoty ed usa!e by the ti2e of the Babylonian e ile ?Her .(=.%-.*A %.=9-'A %(=.&A %'=.:-.;A ENek 9=..-.%A **=%:@. Jar" fa2ine" and pestilence %ecame technical ter2s for the covenant 0oes by 0hich God unishes a ostasy fro2 the covenant.

223

4he Seven Seals


PIord Al2i!hty" ho0 lon! 0ill you 0ithhold 2ercy fro2 Herusale2 and fro2 the to0ns ofHudah" 0hich you have been an!ry 0ith these seventy yearsSP So the Iord s oke kind and co2fortin! 0ords to the an!el 0ho talked 0ith 2e. Zech 1H12#13! RII

aec$aria$9s $orses* It is 1uite likely that the vision of the seals dra0s its 2aLor i2a!ery fro2 <echariahGs co2bination of four colored atrol horses 0ith a laintive PHo0 lon!" & IordSP 4he scene relates to the close ofHudahGs e7ile in Babylon. 4he 0icked are at ease. God had !iven Hudah into their hands as unish2ent for her sins. But the heathen over layed their Lud!2ent role. God is no0 about to act in res onse to the covenant lea" PHo0 lon!SP 8articularly si!nificant for the seven seals is the e1uation of the four horses 0ith the Pfour 0inds Ts iritsU of heavenP ?<ech 9=+@. 4his 2ay indicate that the four 0inds of Revelation :=.-* are the horses of cha ter 9 unleashed in a covenant reversal like that of $euterono2y *%.P 4he 64 allusions thus i2 ly that the seals focus articularly on the e7 erience of GodGs eo le in the 0orld. 4he s0ord" fa2ine" and estilence of the horses are covenant 0oes by 0hich God unishes those 0ho reLect or disobey His covenant" 0ith the intent to lead the2 to re entance. In the 54 conte7t" of course" the covenant is to be understood in ter2s of the rocla2ation of the !os el of 0hat God has done in Christ. 4he 5e0 Israel in Christ ?+='-.&@ con1uers 0hen it reckons itself into the victory of its co22ander" the slain Ia2b. But failure to a ro riate the !os el roduces inevitable and ever-increasin! conse1uences. Jhen GodGs eo le cry out to Hi2 in their distress ?9='-..@" +e turns on those 0ho ersecute the2. 4he horses a arently have their counter art in the destroyin! 0inds of cha ter :. 4hese are turned on those 0ho do not have the seal of God. 4he horse-Lud!2ents affect only 1uarters of the earth ?9=;@A they are reli2inary and artial. 4heir end-ti2e counter arts" the 0indLud!2ents ?:=.-*@" affect the 0hole earth 0ith finality.

'' Editorial note= 4his hy othesis" ho0ever" 0ould re1uire the ($ite hoise and its rider to reverse roles and beco2e a destructive force as terrible as t$e other three" a doubtful in,erence*

224

4he Seven Seals

Syno tic A ocaly se &arallels* In the Syno tic A ocaly se.&& Hesus a ears to have co2bined the 64 covenant 0oes 0ith the 64 heavenly si!ns of the P$ay of the Iord.P 4he arallels bet0een the Syno tic A ocaly se and the seals are not al0ays in the sa2e order" but the 2ultitude of verbal and the2atic links 2akes it virtually certain that Hohn intended the reader to erceive a stron! analo!y bet0een the2..&. Hust as is the case in the Syno tic A ocaly se" so there is a !eneral ro!ression in ti2e as one 2oves throu!h the seals. 4he lan!ua!e of the four horse2en arallels the lan!ua!e Hesus used to describe the !eneral character of the Christian A!e bet0een His ti2e and the Second Co2in!. It is a ti2e of roclai2in! the !os el" and of 0ar" fa2ine" estilence" and ersecution.V After the fall ofHerusale2>Hudah" ChristGs ro hetic !aNe rested briefly on a eriod of hei!htened troubles and ersecution..&* 4his era of ersecution 0ould be follo0ed by end-ti2e dece tions and heavenly si!ns leadin! u to the Second Co2in! itself..&( It should be noted that the end-ti2e dece tions are o2itted in HohnGs brief descri tion of events to occur at the breakin! of the si7th seal. Ho0ever" these are taken u later in !reat detail in Revelation .*-.:..&+ 4hus" the events of the si7th seal are to be understood as conte2 orary 0ith those de icted in that ortion of the Revelation. Si!ni,icance o, t$e parallels* 4he arallels bet0een the seals and the Syno tic A ocaly se" therefore" are not only enor2ous in 1uantity" but share a re2arkable clusterin! alon! chronolo!ical lines. 4his clusterin! underscores t0o 2ain oints. First" the seals arallel the Syno tic A ocaly se as a descri tion of the entire Christian A!e" not Lust its end-ti2e. Second" it underscores 0hat 0as observed earlier in co2 arin! Revelation 9 0ith cha ter .'. 4hat is to say" the four horse2en e7 ress the realities of the entire Christian A!e 0ith e2 hasis on its be!innin!. 4he fifth and si7th seals deal 0ith events leadin! u to the close of the a!e.
6MM Besus9 a ocaly tic ser2on recorded in #att %(-%+" #ark .*" and Iuke %.. .&. Sec table (. 6MA #ark .*=+-.*A Matt %(=(-.(A Lu#e %.=;-'"6A*67* 6M2 Mar# .*=.'.%&A #att %(=%.-%%A cf. Dan :=%+A Rev 6;7-66J .%=9".*-.(. 6M: Mar# .*=%(-%:A Matt %(=%*-*.A Iuke %.=%+-%;A cf. Rev 9=.%..:. 6M3 &arallels %et(een #att %(=%*-%: and Rev .%-.: include suc$ concepts as 2iraculous si!ns desi!ned to deceive ERev 62;62-6:J .9=.*-.(@A false christs ?sea beast@A false ro hets ?land beastA cf. .9=.*@A deserts ?#att %(=%9A cf. Rev .%=.(A .:=*@" and the sunrise ?#att %(=%:A c,* Rev .9=.%@. 225

Interpretation o, Revelation 6 Time of the seals. Je reco!niNe" in s ite of the above discussion" that a nu2ber of ele2ents in Revelation (-9 su!!est to so2e that the assa!e involves the investi!ative Lud!2ent as ortrayed in $aniel :='-.(. It is ur!ed that the introductory scene is dra0n fro2 the i2a!ery of $aniel :. 4hus the throne could be associated 0ith the #ost Holy 8lace of the heavenly sanctuary..&9 Further2ore" it is thou!ht that the si7th cha ter dra0s on the lan!ua!e of Lud!2ent. Ho0ever" 0e 2ust counter by observin! that this is not the 2ost natural 0ay to read the seals. 4he connection bet0een the seals assa!e and *=%." as outlined in detail above" i2 lies that the introductory scene ?Rev (-+@ de icts sy2bolically the enthrone2ent of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary at His ascension. Cha ter : ends 0ith GodGs eo le in the throne-roo2. 4herefore" the seals of cha ter 9 ortray events on earth fro2 the cross to the Second Co2in!" 0ith articular focus on the !os el and the e7 erience of the eo le of God. Jhile the introductory scene dra0s i2a!ery fro2 $aniel :" lar!e differences beco2e obvious 0hen the t0o visions are co2 ared. For e7a2 le" attention is directed to one book in contrast to several in $aniel. 4he throne has not been set u recently. 4he book is sealed instead of o en. 4he 6ne 0ho a roaches the throne is sy2boliNed as the Ia2b" not as the Son of 2an. 4hus" it is evident that the t0o scenes are not the sa2e. It is 2ore natural to understand the introductory scene as the inau!uration of the heavenly sanctuary rather than its !reat end-ti2e day of atone2ent. 4his conclusion is su orted by a nu2ber of other observations. 4here is a total absence of e0pli!it Lud!2ent lan!ua!e in the 0hole section. 4he one e7ce tion to this is 9=.&" 0here the Lud!2ent is understood to be still in the futureV Althou!h so2e feel the conce t of Hud!2ent is resent in cha ter 9".&: it is not out of lace in the conte7t of the reachin! of the !os el ?Hohn *=.;-%.A +=%%-%+@. End-ti2e Lud!2ent" ho0ever" only beco2es e7 licit in the lan!ua!e of the book fro2 ..=.; on0ard. 4he arallels to cha ter .' and the Syno tic A ocaly se also underline the lace2ent of Revelation (-9 in the historical ortion of StrandGs
.&9 It has been su!!ested that since Hesus is in the holy lace in Rev .=.%-%& ?note the 2ention of the lampsH' Rev (.+ ortrays a 2ove into the #ost Holy. Ho0ever" in Rev . Hesus is not in the holy laceA +e is a2on! the churches on earth. 6nly in Rev : does the heavenly sanctuary co2e into vie0. 6M< 8ater$ousc' 6*

226

4he Seven Seals

chias2. 4his lace2ent is further underlined by HohnGs lar!er strate!y for the First half of the book of Revelation..&; Je conclude" therefore" that the introductory sanctuary scene is a descri tion of the enthrone2ent of Christ and the inau!uration of the heavenly sanctuary in A.$. *.. 4his event 0as 2ade ossible by His victory on the cross. Cha ter 9 ortrays the conse1uences on earth fro2 that ti2e until the Second Co2in!. Its focus is on the !os el and on the historical rocess 0ithin 0hich GodGs eo le overco2e Lust as Christ overca2e. 1irst seal ?9=.-%@. 4he first livin! creature ?Iion" 0ith a voice like thunderV@ calls forth a 0hite horse 0hose rider carries a bo0 and !oes out con1uerin!. 4he inter retation of this seal is decisive for understandin! all four horse2en. 4here are three 2aLor vie0s. #ost reterist scholars refer to understand the seals as describin! in literal lan!ua!e events shortly to take lace in the Ro2an E2 ire. .&' In this inter retation the rider on the 0hite horse sy2boliNes 2ilitary con1uest ..& 6ther scholars see in the 0hite horse a ortrayal of the future antichrist" a arody of the Christ ortrayed in cha ter .'. In this inter retation" the seals ortray the activity of SatanGs kin!do2 in the events leadin! u to the end. A third !rou of scholars understand the four horse2en of the seals to be a sy2bolic ortrayal of the victorious s read of the !os el and the conse1uences of its reLection. Each of these 0ill be taken u in its turn. 3. The preterist view. Jhile Adventists do not acce t the resu ositions of reterist scholars" it is ossible that the 0ar" fa2ine" and estilence of the seals are to be taken in their natural 2eanin! as is the case 0ith the arallel i2a!ery of the Syno tic A ocaly se. If so" the 2essa!e of the seals 0ould e7actly arallel that of the Syno tic A ocaly se" a ortrayal of the natural disasters and the ersecution that characteriNe the Christian A!e and lead u to the heavenly si!ns that 2ark its close. Ho0ever" a nu2ber of factors su!!est a 2ore sy2bolic a roach to the seals. First" the entire book of Revelation is Psi!nifiedP >eSemanen, .=.@. #uch of its i2a!ery 0ould 2ake little sense if taken literally. Second" the horses the2selves are never inter reted as literal 4hird" since cha ters ( and + are filled 0ith sy2bolic lan!ua!e" 0hat indication is there that cha 6M= Sec c$ap* .&"PSeals and 4ru2 ets= So2e Current $iscoveries"P in this volu2e. 6M7 Suc$ as a 8arthian invasion ,rom the cast that the revelator ,eels 0ill us$er in the celestial conseIuences o, the day o, t$e Lord* C,* Collins" ((-(+. 66M T$e four horse2en accordin! to this inter retation ortray 0ar" stri,e' fa2ine" and estilence" the latter three bein! the conseIuence o, the first.

227

ter 9 is any differentS Certainly no Adventist 0ould inter ret the fifth seal literally. Finally" the detailed i2a!es of the four horse2en 2ake coherent sense 0hen understood in the li!ht of fi!urative and s iritual 2eanin!s fa2iliar to eo le at the ti2e Revelation 0as 0ritten. <. The "uturist view. #any scholars inter ret the seals in a sy2bolic 0ay" but ar!ue that the rider on the 0hite horse is the antichrist on several !rounds. ?.@ 4he Pbo0P re resents the o0er of Go! and Babylon in the &.A and these are ty es of the antichrist. ?%@ the satanic beasts of cha ters .. and .* Pcon1uerP the saints ?..=:A .*=:" ni.aeS, the sa2e verb as used in 9=%@. ?*@ Here is a continual interaction in Revelation bet0een the true and the counterfeit.FFF ?(@ 4he Pit 0as !ivenP >e$othe, =,<5 is a Pdivine assiveP and is arallel to '=. 0here God er2its the an!el of the abyss to lead his de2onic hordes a!ainst hu2anity. ?+@ Jhile the 0hite horse of 9=% is an e7act verbal arallel to the 0hite horse of .'=.." there are 2any strikin! differences bet0een the t0o accountsA..% thus" they should not be e1uated. 4hese ar!u2ents in favor of the antichrist hy othesis are not as stron! as they 2ay at first a ear. a. Jhile the bo0 is used to ortray the o0er of GodGs ene2ies in the &.A it is in each case introduced so it can be s2ashed by Mah0ehGs su erior o0er" i.* In an even !reater nu2ber of cases" bo0s and arro0s re resent Mah0ehGs 0ea ons directed a!ainst His ene2ies. ..( b. Althou!h the Greek 0ord for Pcon1uerin!P is used to refer to the beasts and their ersecution of the saints" the 2ore imme$iate conte7t of 9=% is the Pcon1uerin!P of Christ on the cross ?+=+" 6' 'A cf. *=%.@" 0hich rovides the basic substance of the !os el rocla2ation. c. 4he dra!on" beast" and false ro het do indeed counterfeit the 4rinity. 4heir evil character is clearly ortrayed in their o osition to the 0o2an and the saints. 6n the other hand" in the case of 9=% Hohn !ives no hint that the color 0hite should be taken in a ne!ative sense...+ And 0ith
... 5otice t$at the dra!on" beast" and false ro het of Rev .% and .* are a counterfeit trinity 0ith characteristics t$at arallel the 1at$er' Son" and Holy S irit. ..% E.!." t(o different 0ree# (ords are used for the cro0n ?Rev =,</stephanosS Rev .'=.%K $ia$emata5 0orn by the riders res ectively. ..* Her+.=+9A EFe# *'=*A +os .=+. ..( Dent B<,:F-:BS &s :=.*A Ia2 %=(A *=.%A +a% *=;-'. It is si!nificant that the revelator 0as robably intentionally alludin! to Dcut *%" and ossibly also to Hab *. ..+ 5otice the follo0in! associations of P0hiteP in the book of Revelation= ?.@ Jith Christ" .=.(A .(=.(A .'=..".(. ?%@ Jith %elievers' %=.:A *=("+".;A :='"62'.(A .+=9A .'=;. ?*@ Jith $eavenly %ein!s' :;:J .'=.(. ?(@ Jith God" %&=... 22"

4he Seven Seals

only one e7ce tion in the mi~ a stephanos ?victory cro0n@ is al0ays associated 0ith Christ or His eo le...9

d. Jhile it is true that GodGs activity is to be seen behind the Lud!2ents of the fifth tru2 et" the !ivin! of the key in '=. and authority in '=*"+ indicates that God is er2ittin!" 0ith li2itations" the activity of Satan to run ra2 ant. But in cha ter 9 the activity of the four horses is not er2ittedA it is Pco22anded.P..: $oes God co22and antichrist to behave the 0ay
e doe04

e. 4he differences bet0een cha ters 9 and .' are e7 lainable in ter2s of the difference bet0een the church 2ilitant and the church triu2 hant. Christ 0ears the diade2 ..; in .'=.% because His con1uerin! activity..' is co2 lete. He 0ears the victory cro0n >stephanos^ in 9=% because the heavenly kin!do2 attained by the cross is still in the rocess of establishin! its do2inion on earth. =. The histori!ist view. 4he ositive nature of the 0hite horse is su orted by the fact that the first horse2an does not roduce afflictions as do the other three. 4here is no hint of counterfeit in the te7t itself. And if the rider on the 0hite horse sy2boliNes the !os el" the analo!y 0ith the Syno tic A ocaly se is 2ore co2 lete than it 0ould other0ise be..%& It see2s best" therefore" to understand the 0hite horse to sy2boliNe ChristGs kin!do2 and its !radual con1uest of the 0orld throu!h the reachin! of the !os el by His church. Jhat 0as ratified in heaven at the enthrone2ent of the Ia2b is no0 actuated in the e7 erience of His eo le in the course of hu2an history. 4his icture is robably based on the Israelite kin!shi 2otif in 8sal2 (+=*-:" 5I3=

666 Sec* e-!." Matt %:=%' and arallelsA . Cor '=%+A % Tim (=;A Bas .=.%A Rev %=.&A *=..A .(=.(. 4he e7ce tion to this rule is Rev '=: 0here the siephanoi are laced on t$e heads of the de2onic riders fro2 the A%yss* Even here" ho0ever" t$e usa!e is 1ualified by the use of Pas it (ere5 >hos5. T$e de2onic riders do not really (ear stephanoi, they only a ear to. ..: C,* the re eated co22and Pco2eP >er!hou5. ..; 4he royal cro0n of rulin! authority. 667 Sy2boliNed by t$e victory !arland >stephanos5 of Rev 9=%. .%& In the Syno tic A ocaly se it is the reachin! of the !os el that reci itates the events of the cschaton.

22.

4he Seven Seak Gird your s0ord u on your side" & 2i!hty oneA clothe yourself 0ith s lendor and 2aLesty. In your 2aLesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth" hu2ility and ri!hteousnessA let your ri!ht band dis lay a0eso2e deeds. Iet your shar arro0s ierce the hearts of the lon!Gs ene2iesA let the nations fall beneath your feet. Mour throne" & God" 0ill last for ever and everA a sce ter of Lustice 0ill be the sce ter of your kin!do2. Mou love ri!hteousness and hate 0ickednessA therefore God" your God" has set you above your co2 anions by anointin! you 0ith the oil of Loy.

8sal2 (+ co2bines this 2ilitary i2a!e 0ith that of a royal 0eddin! ?8s (+=.&-.+@. Jhen the con1uest is co2 lete the 0eddin! can take lace. But in Revelation 9=% the con1uest is Lust !ettin! under 0ay" the 0eddin! 2ust a0ait a future ti2e ?.'=9-;A %.='ff.@. Since the hrase Pcon1uerin! and to con1uerP e7 resses a ro!ressive increase of victory" the 0hite horse does not end 0ith the first century. Rather" the sy2bol ortrays in a !eneral 0ay the ro!ress of the !os el durin! the entire Christian Era. Second seal ?9=*-(@. At the o enin! of the ne7t seal the second livin! creature ?the calf or youn! bull" (=:@ calls forth a red horse. Its rider receives a !reat s0ord and is er2itted to take eace fro2 the earth" resultin! in 0ar and 2utual hu2an destruction. 4he horse is not PredP in the technical sense. 4he adLective is dra0n fro2 the Greek 0ord for PfireP >pur5. Fire in the book of Revelation is often associated 0ith heavenly thin!s ?;=+A .(=.;@ but al0ays for the ur ose of Lud!2ent ?;=:A %&=.&".(".+@..%. Althou!h the i2a!ery in this assa!e recalls 2ilitary 0arfare" the only other 2ention of P eaceP in Revelation is of a s iritual nature ?.=(@. 4he Greek 0ord for PslayP is nor2ally used of the death of Christ and of His
i%EM

saints..K Conse1uently" it is unlikely that the second seal refers ri2arily to 2ilitary strife. It 2ay rather re resent ersecution" the loss of s iritual eace" and division over the !os el.
.%. For a 2ore thorou!h discussion of PfireP as a sy2bolic conce t sec 2y &e!o$ing Revelation+s #hmipets, %(;-('"*9;-9'. .%% Rev+=9"'".%A 9='A .*A;A .;=%(. 4he one e7ce tion to this is Rev .*=* 0here the sea beast is described as a counterfeit of Christ.

23$

T$e Seven Seals

In 8sal2 (+ the sa2e horse2an 0ho shoots arro0s at his ene2ies also carries a s0ord as he rides off. 4he sa2e !os el 2essa!e that is a savor of life unto life can also beco2e a savor of death to those 0ho reLect it..%* 6ne is re2inded of the 0ords of Hesus= Jhoever confesses 2e before 2en" I 0ill also confess before 2y father in heaven. But 0hoever denies 2e before 2en" I 0ill also deny before 2y father in heaven. Do not think that I have co2e to brin! eace u on the earth= I have not co2e to brin! eace but a s0ord. For I have co2e to turn a 2an a!ainst his father a dau!hter a!ainst her 2other and a dau!hter-in-la0 a!ainst her 2other-in-la0. A 2anGs ene2ies 0ill be of his o0n household. #att .&=*%-*9 Jherever the !os el is reached victories take lace" but even 2ore often co2es division and ersecution as a result of its reLection. .%( 4he eace that co2es fro2 union 0ith Christ 2ust not be confused 0ith the eace that co2es fro2 the favor of others. T$ird seal ?9=+-9@. At the o enin! of the third seal the third livin! creature ? resu2ably" the one 0ith the face of a 2an@ calls forth a black horse. Its rider holds a air of scales. 4he color PblackP is not other0ise sy2bolic in the Greek Scri tures. It is nor2ally used for the color of hair or skin on the one hand and for PinkP on the other. Its 2eanin! in this assa!e robably derives fro2 its contrast 0ith the 0hite horse of the first seal. 4he PscaleP >2ugon5 is often used as a sy2bol of God Lud!in! eo le..%+ In this case it 0ould be Lud!2ent accordin! to the !os el..%9 4he rider on the black horse" unlike the first t0o riders" a arently en!a!es in no action. A voice fro2 the 2idst of the four livin! creatures roclai2s= A 1uart of 0heat for a denarius" and t$ree Iuarts o, %arley for a denarius= and do not inLure the oil and the 0ine.
6A2 A Cor A;6:-66J cf. Isa %9=*A +:=.'-%.. 6A: Matt .&=*(-*'. .%+ Hob *.=9A $an +=%:. .%9 Hohn *=.;-%.A +=%%%+.

%*.

4he Seven Seals Grain" oil" and 0ine (ere the t$ree 2ain cro s o, ancient 8alestine. As such they represented t$e %lessin! o, 0od*6A< Since !rain is s$allo(-rooted' it is more easily dama!ed in a drou!$t t$an olives and !ra es. A denarius 0as the ancient desi!nation for a day9s (a!e* /nder these circumstances' a day9s earnin!s could only provide enou!$ ($eat ?the !rain o, reference@ for one person to survive on* T$e icture is of a drou!ht-induced fa2ine t$at $as not yet pro!ressed to t$e level 0here dee -rooted lants and trees are affected. 6nce a!ain the lan!ua!e of the seal su!!ests a s iritual rather than literal a lication. I, the 0hite horse re resents the !os el" the black horse 0ould re resent its o osite" erroneous doctrine. Alt$ou!$ in Revelation 6: t$e !rain harvest represents the ri!hteous and the !ra e $arvest t$e (ic#ed' in this instance t$e ,amine conte7t i2 lies t$at all t$ree ,ood products represent s iritual %ene,its* T$us' the seal essentially depicts a ,amine ,or t$e 8ord o, 0od ?cf. A2os ;=..-.%@" %ut a ,amine t$at is limited %y t$e command o, +eaven so as to not remove t$e 2eans of !race..%' T$e !ospel $as %een o%scured' %ut its benefits are still availa%le* 1ourt$ seal ?9=:-;@. As the fourth seal is o ened" the fourth livin! creature ? robably the ea!le or vulture@ calls forth a rider on a yello0-!reen colored horse. 4his rider" $eath" is follo0ed by Hades" and has authority
1 4:f>

over a 1uarter of the earth to kill 0ith the s0ord"PP fa2ine" estilence ?death@".*. and the beasts of the earth. 4his intensification of the har2ful activities of the second and third horse2en is au!2ented by the other t0o ele2ents of covenant Lud!2ent= estilence ?death@ and 0ild beasts. If the seal is to be understood in s iritual ter2s" it de icts by far the 2ost serious s iritual declension yet described in the book ?the cli2a7 co2es in .;=%-*@. It is a estilence of soul. 4hese la!ues fall on those
.%: Deut :=.*A Hos %=;A Hoel %=.'"%(. .%; Accordin! to Iev %9=%9" 0hich lies in the back!round of this assa!e" to dole out bread by 0ei!ht is a si!n of serious fa2ine. .%' In this understandin! the oil could re resent the S irit and the 0ine the blood of Christ. In the arable of the !ood Sa2aritan these 0ere healin! re2edies. .*& T$e s(ord in the second seal is a different 0ree# 0ord >ma!haira5 than the one in the fourth seaV >rhomphaia5. )a!haira is the 0ord used in Lev %9 and Deut *%. 4he usa!e in the Ps0ord" fa2ine and estilenceP assa!es of Beremia$ and ENekiel is divided bet0een the t0o 0ordsA so they see2 essentially identical in 2eanin! here. .*. In the 0ree# OT t$e 0ord for PdeathP >thanatos5 translates the +e%re( 0ord for P estilenceP in t$e #ey covenant curse assa!es. C,*' c.!." Bcr .(=.%A %(=.&A ENek +=.%" .:. Since thanatos is follo0ed by Hades ?the abode of the dead in Hebre0 thou!ht@" both ideas see2 to co2bine" althou!h ersonified se arately. 62A Cf. EFe# .(=%&.%.A +=.%".:A Ber .(=.%A %'=.:-.;. 232

4he Seven Seals

0hose reLection of the !os el has hardened to the oint of near ho elessness. In .=.; death and Hades ?!rave@ are clearly under ChristGs control. In %&=.( they are in association 0ith the conce t of the Psecond death.P 4his tri le arallel offers evidence that the fourth seal involves the threat of er2anent e7clusion fro2 2ercy. 4his seal" ho0ever" as terrible as it is" is not to be e1uated 0ith the final end-ti2e close of robation of 0hich it is clearly a foretaste. As 0as the case 0ith the third horse2an" this rider does not P!o out"P thus li2itin! the la!ue. In the back!round te7ts of Ieviticus %9 and $euterono2y *% these la!ues are not final but are intended to evoke re entance. Further Lud!2ents on the 0icked lie ahead in the fifth and si7th seals. 1our $orsemen* 4he four horse2en robably should be understood 2ore as a ro!ression of thou!ht than as a ri!id historical se1uence. In the first lace" the virtual absence of any reference to ti2e is in strikin! contrast" for e7a2 le" to the seven tru2 ets..** Further2ore" the 0oes reflected in seals %-( are ordered in a 0ide variety of 0ays in the 64. .*( A si2ilar variety of usa!e can be seen by co2 arin! the three versions of the Syno tic A ocaly se ?#att %(A #ark .*A Iuke %.@" 0here these 0oes constitute the !eneral character of the Christian A!e. 4he descri tion of the rider on the 0hite horseKPcon1uerin! and to con1uerPKsu!!ests an on!oin! activity rather than a eriod of history to %e follo0ed by another eriod. 4hus" the four horse2en 2ost likely re resent a !eneral descri tion o, the s read of the !os el ?0hite horse@" the resultin! ersecution and division ?red horse@" and the increasin! conse1uences of reLection of that !os el ?black and ale horses@. .*+ 4he central the2e is that the reachin! of the !os el and the arrival of the ne0 a!e in Christ does not halt the s read of evil in the 0orld. 4his e7 resses 0ell the tension bet0een the t0o a!es so characteristic of the 54 as a 0hole. Ho0ever" havin! said this" it is note0orthy that the the2atic ro!res-

622 5ote the successive 0oes of the tru2 ets ERev ;=.*A '=.%A ..=.(@" the five 2onths ?'=+".&@" the forty-t0o 2onths ?..=%@" and the three and a half days ?..='@. .*( A doNen 64 assa!es list at least three of the Five 0oe-ty e i2a!es in the four horse2en ?arro0s" s0ord" fa2ine" estilence" and 0ild beasts@. Four of the five are found in Iev %9=%.-%9A $eut *%=%*-%+A Her .+=%-*A ENek+=.%-.:A .(=.*-.'"%.A but in no t0o of these are they in the sa2e order. 6f the tri le listin!s" four offer the sa2e se1uence as Rev9= 0ar" fa2ine" and estilence ? la!ue@= Her .(=.%-.*A %(=.&A %'=.:-.;A ENek 9=..-.%A but t0o chan!e the order Ber %.=9-'A ENek **=%:. 623 In t$e lan!ua!e of the covenant" the rider on the 0hite horse offers blessin!" 0hile the other three dole out the curses of the covenant due to reLection of the !os el.

233

V e Se_en Seal0 sion of t$e four $orses ,its (ell (it$ t$e $istory o, t$e ,irst t$ousand years of the Christian Era* First" there 0as the initial" ra id e7 ansion of the church throu!hout 2uch of the then-kno0n 0orld. 4he succeedin! eriod brou!ht division and co2 ro2ise in the face of ersecution. 4he loss of a clear understandin! of the !os el follo0ed as the church settled into an earthly kin!do2 in the years after Constantine. Finally" the $ark A!es of s iritual decline and death en!ulfed Christendo2. 4hus the ro!ression of thou!ht 2ay 0ell be chronolo!ical" at least in the first a earance of each chan!e.. 4his vie0 is su orted by the fact that the four livin! creatures are never se arated in Scri ture e7ce t in the four horse2en. 4heir successive involve2ent in ?9=.-;@ is a clue that a certain chronolo!ical ro!ression arallels the ro!ression of thou!ht. 4he four horses" therefore" outline both the trend of history at the be!innin! of the Christian Era" and the !eneral realities of the Christian A!e..*: T$e reachin! o, t$e !os el and its conseIuences.victories ,or t$e kin!do2" ersecution" division' and E,or t$ose ($o reGectH' increasin! s iritual ,amine and declineKhave proven to %e realities at %ot$ the corporate and t$e individual level. T$e fina% !oin! forth o, t$e rider on t$e 0hite $orse is attested %y t$e sealin! messa!e in c$apter < and t$e three an!els9 messa!es in c$apter 6:* As 2entioned earlier" the first t0o riders are said to P!o out"P 0hereas the last t0o are only seen. Each affects only a 1uarter of the earth ?9=;@. 4hus" the PLud!2entsP of the horse2en are artial and restrained. 4he third and fourth horse2en the2selves are not final events. 4hey are reli2inary and artial foretastes of the !reat end-ti2e colla se of s iritual life and understandin!. Historically they fit the #iddle A!es best" a ti2e of s iritual decline and ersecution. 1i,t$ seal ?9='-..@. 4he o enin! of the fifth seal reveals a icture of slain ri!hteous ersons Punder the altarP 0ho cry out" Ho0 lon!" & Iord" the holy and true 6ne" do Mou not Hud!e and aven!e our blood on those 0ho live on the earthS

.*9 An e7a2 le arallel to this are the three an!elsG 2essa!es. T$ey are chronolo!ical in order of co22and2entA thereafter" they are roclai2ed side by side until the end. .*: A arallel to this t0ofold e2 hasis can be found in $an :=..-.%. Each of the beasts of $an : has a ri2e ti2e of activity" yet the s irit of each beast lives on to the end.

234

4he Seven Seals

4he scene is sy2boliNin! believers 0ho have been sacrificed for their ,ait$ in ti2es revious to the o enin! of this seal. After receivin! 0hite robes these 2artyrs are infor2ed that they should rest a little 0hile lon!er until their fello0 servants and brethren" 0ho are about to be killed as they (ere' are Pco2 letedP or Pfulfilled.P 4he i2a!ery of the dead beside the altar re resents the frustration of GodGs eo le for 0ho2 the content of the sealed scroll is yet hidden. 4hou!h their trust in God is unshaken" they lon! for the final Lud!2ent 0hen their na2es 0ill be cleared in a hi!her court. 4he fifth seal re resents the divine a0areness of His eo lesG sufferin!s" and He 0ill res ond 0hen the ti2e is ri!ht. GodGs concern for His sufferin! eo le is the oint of the assa!eA it is not intended to e7 lain the state of the dead. .*; 4he hrase Pho0 lon!P is used fre1uently in the &., articularly in relation to the destruction of Herusale2 by the Babylonians ?Hab .=%@. 8sal2 :' is of interest=
Ho0 lon!" & IordS Jill you be an!ry foreverS Ho0 lon! 0ill your Lealousy bu2 like fireS 8our out your 0rath on the nations that do not ackno0led!e you" on the kin!do2s that do not call on your na2eA... Jhy should the nations say" PJhere is their GodSP Before our eyes" 2ake kno0n a2on! the nations that you aven!e the out oured blood of your servants. 3ss. +"6'.&" 5I3

In the fifth seal 0e see the results of the ersecutions 0hich have been alluded to in the horse2en" articularly the second. 4hus the fifth seal re resents a later oint in ti2e than the four horse2en the2selves..*' Since
62= T$e altar in vie( here is the altar of burnt offerin!" not the altar of incense. O,ten in the 64 sanctuary service" blood 0as oured out Xe.!heo. Lev (=:".;" %+" *&"*(A =;63J 7;7' L//H at the %ase o, t$e altar o, %urnt offerin!" 0hereas nothin! ever ha ened at t$e base of the incense altar* In Rev .9=9 the blood of saints and ro hets 0as P oured oat%"e0e!hean5 by the 0icked" an evident sanctuary reference. Ho0 could 2artyrin! be referred to in ter2s of sanctuary serviceC P4he hour is co2in! 0hen everyone 0ho #ills you (ill think that $e is offerin! sacrificial service ?Xa2on prospherein5 to 0od5 ?Hohn .9=%@. T$e death o, the 2artyrs is art of a !reat %attle over t$e proper (ay to serve 0od' Since t$e altar o, burnt offerin! is never ortrayed in $eaven' rather is sy2bolic of ChristGs sacrifice on eart$' these souls under the altar are not in $eaven' t$ey arc in t$eir earthly !raves. 4hey do not Pco2e to lifeP until the Second Co2in! ?Rev %&=(@. T$us the cryin! out of Rev 9=.& is only sy2bolic" li#e t$e cryin! out of AbelGs blood in Gen (. 627 T$e corres ondin! event in the Syno tic A ocaly se is the !reat tribulation ?cf. Matt %(=%.-%%@.

235

4he Seven Seals the hrase PHo0 lon!SP is a lied in $aniel :=%." %+A .%=9-: to the !reat tribulation of the #iddle A!es" Revelation 9=.& a ro riately re resents a PcryP of rotest fro2 the 2artyrs of that sa2e era. It is evident that the cry of the 2artyrs occurs rior to the actual ti2e of Lud!2ent and the final crisis. 4he ter2s PLud!eP and Paven!eP indicate a t0o- art re1uest. 4he 2artyrs 0ish to be vindicated and aven!ed. .(& Fro2 the ers ective of the PHo0 lon!SP cry both Lud!2ent and ven!eance are future. 4he !ivin! of 0hite robes ?vs. ..@ sy2boliNes the vindication of the 2artyrs in the investi!ative Lud!2ent ?cf. *=+@. 5evertheless" the e7ecution of that Lud!2ent is still future. 4he co2 arison bet0een 9=.& and .'=% ?see above@ indicates that 9=.. alludes to the be!innin! of the investi!ative Lud!2ent" 0hile cha ter .; ortrays its conclusion Lust before the Second Advent..(. 4hus" the fifth seal is divided into t0o arts chronolo!ically= ?.@ 4he 2artyrsG cry is rior to the investi!ative Lud!2ent ?vs. .&@. ?%@ 4he !ivin! of 0hite robes si!nals the onset of that Lud!2ent. 4herefore" the fifth seal fits 0ell bet0een the !reat ersecutions of the #iddle A!es and the conclusion of the investi!ative Lud!2ent. 4he end has been delayed. 4he !os el task is not yet co2 lete 0hen this seal dra0s to a close. Si t$ seal ?9=.%-.:@. 4he o enin! of the si7th seal unleashes 2assive heavenly and earthly heno2ena. 4here is a !reat earth1uake ?evidently rior to and distinct fro2 the one in .9=.;@" a series of heavenly si!ns" and an even !reater earth1uake that 2oves every 2ountain and island out of its lace ? robably the earth1uake of .9=.;@. 4he final earth1uake leads to the !reat terror of unsaved hu2anity" 0ho utiliNe caves and the rocks of the 2ountains in a futile atte2 t to hide fro2 the a roachin! resence of the 6ne sittin! on the throne and of the 0rath of the Ia2b. 4he unsaved cry out" For the !reat day of His 0rath has co2e" and 0ho 0ill be able to standS 4he heavenly si!ns and earth1uakes of this seal are not uni1ue to this assa!e. 4hey recall a lon! history of si2ilar heno2ena in the Pday of the IordP assa!es of the 64.(% 8erha s" even 2ore i2 ortant to Hohn is HesusG use of heavenly si!ns in #att %(=%'K
.(& T$e verb .rinV ?to Lud!e@ a lies to investi!ative Lud!2ent as 0ell as e7ecutive Lud!2ent. .(. See Strand' 5T(o As ects of BabylonGs Hud!2ent"P +*-9&" for an e7cellent discussion of Rev .;. .(% C,* EFe# *%=:-;A Amos ;=;-.&A Ber (=%*-%:A Isa *(=(A .*=.&-.*A 5ah *=.%A ENek *;=.'-%&A Ha! %=9'-Isa +&=.-:A Hoel %=%;-*.A &s .&%=%+-%:.

236

T$e Seven Seals


Immediately a,ter the distress o, t$ose days the sun (ill %e dar#ened' and t$e moon 0ilt not !ive its li!htA t$e stars (ill fall ,rom t$e sky" and t$e $eavenly %odies 0ill %e s$a#en'

4he arallel 0ith the Syno tic A ocaly se ar!ues that so2e" at least" of these heno2ena fall shortly after the !reat tribulation eriod alluded to in the fifth seal. 4hat the heavenly si!ns are to be understood as literal is indicated by the fact that each is follo0ed by an PasP >hos5 0hich in this construction introduces a fi!urative analo!y to an actual event..( T$e si t$ seal' t$ere,ore' spans t$e period fro2 t$e cry of t$e 2artyrs to t$e end-ti2e. Since t$e $eavenly si!ns of .:;& and .;** $ad a !reat impact on t$e developin! interest in t$e study o, ro hecy" t$e Iisbon eart$Iua#e o, .:++ is the %est candidate ,or t$e eart$Iua#e of 9=.%..(( Revelation 6;6: points ,or(ard to t$e final crash of alt t$in!s terrestrial and celestial inso,ar as t$ey pertain to t$is planet Ec,* A &et 2;7-6AH* Sevent$ seal ?;=.@. 4he o enin! of the seventh seal results in only a si2 le state2ent to the effect that a brief silence occurs in heaven. 4he silence functions like a cal2 after the stor2 of destruction occasioned by ChristGs second co2in!. A nu2ber of e7 lanations have been offered to e7 lain the 2eanin! of this silence" but none has roved decisive. One ossibility is that the silence is an announce2ent that the Lustice of God has been fully e7ecuted. 4his is based on te7tual state2ents that in the face of inLustice God refuses to kee silent until Lustice has been served ?cf.8s +&=*-9A Isa 9+=9-:@.

.(* 5otice the follo0in! attern= T$e sun beco2es black ...........................as >hos5...... sackcloth of hair. 4he 0hole 2oon beco2es...................-..as >hSs5...... blood. 4he stars o, heaven fall to the earth .....as >hSs5...... a Fi! tree discards its fi!s. 4he heaven s lit up .................................as >HSs5...... a rolled-u scroll. .(( #any have reLected the $ark $ay and the fallin! of the stars as a fulfill2ent of this ro hecy because they have co2e to be understood as natural events. Ho0ever" God often uses natural events to acco2 lish His ur oses ?cf. E7od .(=%. and the o enin! of the Red Sea for Israel@. 4he si!nificance of the Iisbon earth1uake" $ark $ay" and the fallin! of the stars is their ti2in!" their a earance in connection 0ith the closin! years of the .%9& years of a al su ression both before and after .:';. 237

4he Seven Seals


For <ionGs sake I 0ill not kee silence" for Herusale2Gs sake I 0ill s eak out" until her ri!ht shines forth like the sunrise" her deliverance like a blaNin! torch" until the nations see the triu2 h of your ri!ht and all the kin!s see your !lory. Isa 9%=.-%" 5EB

6ther ossibilities for inter retin! the silence of this seal include the end-ti2e counter art to the silence at the be!innin! ?Gen .=%A cf. ( ENra :=%9-*.@A the silence of the universe as it 0atches the destruction of evil ?in stark contrast to the celebration of Revelation +@A and the silence of the courtroo2 0hen the book is finally o ened..(+ Since the si7th seal ortrays the events surroundin! the Second Co2in! itself ?9=.+-.:@ and describes the resence of the redee2ed before the throne ?:='-.:@" the seventh seal 2ay be best understood as either a cry tic recursor of the 2illenniu2 or the universal eace that results fro2 the consu22ation at the end of the 2illenniu2 ?cf. Rev %&='-.+@.

Conclusion
Althou!h no atte2 t 0as 2ade to ali!n the inter retations of this cha ter 0ith those of /riah S2ith" his vie0s on the seals are re2arkably si2ilar to the conclusions of this cha ter..(9 Jhile at ti2es he hi2self did not !ra le 0ith the te7t".(: his conclusions 2ust be taken seriously by Adventists 0hen he did. Jhat difference does it 2ake to everyday Christian livin! that 0e have !ained a better understandin! of this ro hecyS 6f 2aLor i2 ortance is the fact that our assa!e dra0s aside the curtain that hides the unseen 0orld of s iritual reality fro2 us 0ho live on earth. 4he !rand introductory scene ?Rev (-+@ i2 resses u on us that the scenes that follo0 are a visible and earthly e7 ression of the invisible and heavenly conflict bet0een Christ and Satan..(; 4he sa2e Christ 0ho safe!uards the churches ?Rev .-*@ also sits on
.(+ Cf. the intense silence 0hen the contents of a 0ill are about to be revealedV .(9 /riah S2ith" &aniel an$ the H!velation ?Battle Creek" MI' .;':@" *;(-(*(. .(: An e7a2 le is the 2aterial on the tru2 ets" 0here no observations are 2ade concernin! the te7t" but a!es of history are 1uoted fro2 other 0riters. See ibid." (++-;:. 5ote the disclai2er on . (++ 0here he indicates that even this 0as ta#en fro2 an anony2ous Revie( and Herald ublication authored ori!inally by Ha2es Jhite in .;+'. .(; Hohn R. J. Stott" The (ross o" (hrist ?$o0nerGs Grove" IL' .';9@" %(:. 23"

4he Seven Seals

GodGs throne in heavenly laces ?Rev (-+@. He kno0s and cares 0hen His eo le suffer or are forced to 0alk this life alone because of their faith in Hi2. It is" therefore" not sur risin! that GodGs eo le throu!hout the Christian Era have found 2eanin! for their lives in the stran!e collection of i2a!es that 2ake u the a ocaly tic ortions of the book. 4he seals of cha ter 9 rovide a tellin! descri tion of Christian life on this earth bet0een the cross and the Second Co2in!. GodGs sufferin! eo le 2ay at ti2es 0onder if reality does not rove their faith an illusion. 4he !lory and the !litter see2 to reside 0ith the o onents of the !os el. But the fact that the !ri2 realities of earthGs history and e7 erience follo0 u on the o enin! of the seals in heaven de2onstrates that these realities are under the control of the Ia2b" 0ho is already rei!nin! ?Rev +@ and 0hose erfect kin!do2 0ill soon be consu22ated ?..=.+-.;@. 4o belea!uered saints a theolo!ical treatise is far less effective than the a ocaly tic ictures of a slain la2b 0ho 0ins an irreversible victory. 4hrou!h conte2 lation of that Ia2b and His victory by faith" the sufferin! and harassed ones !ain coura!e to finish their course. After 1uotin! ortions of Revelation + and :" Ellen Jhite says"
Jill you catch the ins iration of the visionS Jill you let your 2ind d0ell u on the ictureS Jill you not be truly converted" and then !o forth to labor in a s irit entirely different fro2 the s irit in 0hich you have labored in the ast" dis lacin! the ene2y" breakin! do0n every barrier to the advance2ent of the !os el" fillin! hearts 0ith the li!ht and eace and Loy of the IordS.+& I, 0e 0ould er2it our 2inds to d0ell 2ore u on Christ and the heavenly 0orld" 0e should find a o0erful sti2ulus and su ort in fi!htin! the battles of the Iord. 8ride and love of the 0orld 0ill lose their o0er as 0e conte2 late the !lories of that better land so soon to be our ho2e. Beside the loveliness of Christ" all earthy attractions 0ill see2 of little 0orth.

4here is one further insi!ht of crucial i2 ortance. Je stand in history bet0een t0o earth1uakes and t0o sets of celestial heno2ena ?Rev 9=.%-.(@. 4he ortents of the end-ti2e have already !otten under 0ay. 4hou!h the a arent delay of the Advent causes 2any to say PHo0 lon!SP it is co2fortin! to kno0 that fro2 the stand oint of the Father" 0ho sees the end fro2 the be!innin!" 0e are nearly ho2eV

.(' Ibid.. %(;. .+& Testimonies ;=(+. .+. Review an$ Heral$, Novem%er .+..;;:.

23.

4he Seven Seals

Ta%les o, Allusions E6-:H

Table I%The 9ld TestaJent in Revelation H Rev :;6 E od .'=%( EFe# .=(".*".( ENek .=."( EFe# .&=9-: $an ENek *=.%-.* :=' <cch(=% ENek ;=.-( Rev :;6-< ENek ..=..%( San!:! ,!1,HGQTheod7 &s .;=.&-.. San T:6"T EFe# .=+"9".&..*..;"%% ENek .&=.".%".( $an :=%"*..&
Rev H:!"3 .xod ! :1T"!1 IU/s !!:11 !3hrl :1 Isa6:! .VeW 1:!6"! .VeW ! :13 San T:1 Rev H: .xod 3:1H Ps11:l

Isa 9=%-* EFe# 6;6'6= EFe# .&=.% A2os *=.*A (=.* ?IDD@ Rev :;7-6M
IU/s !!:11 !3hrl :1

Rev :;: . Chr %(=(-.' Isa %(=%* $an :=' Rev :;3 E od .'=.9-.; E7od %+=*: Isa 9=9

Isa 6;6'2 $an (=*(A 9=%:A .%=: ?4heod@ Rev :;66 $an (=*: ?IDD@

!H:

4 h e S e v e n S ea ls

Ta%le A.T$e Old Testament in Revelation 3


Rev G: Ps Rev 3;6 1H1:! . F!s %%=.' Isa %Chrl;=.; Isa 9=. 24H23 Isa %'=.. $an ;=%9 .VeW $an .%=("' ENek 1:G,1 %='-.& : San 7H1"!2 Rev G:!"3 2!27

E od AM;: Deut +=; Dan <;6M Dan .%=("'

Rev G:H"G Gen 4.H.#1$ 30a 11H1!1$ San 7H1$ Rev G:6 30a 24H23 Isa G3:T *er 11:1 "11 .VeW 1:G,1$!13 Zech3:1 ec 4H2!6!1$ Rev G:T 1 U/s !!:11 2 C r 1"H1" 30a6Hl Dan 7H13

Rev G:1"1: .xod 11:6 8s**=* 8s(&=* 8s'9=l Ps ."H1 Ps 1HH:1 Ps

1H1:1 Isa 42H5!1$ Dan 7H14!27 '_0. .] Dan 7H1"!22!27 'Z] Rev 3;66-6A Isa %(=%* ENek .=+".& $an :=.& Rev G:13 .xod !::H 1 KJ0 !!:11 2C rl "H1" Isa6:l San T:!T Rev G:1H Isa %(=%* EFe# 6;3*.&

%(.

4he Seven Seals


4able *K4he 6ld 4esta2ent in Revelation 9

Rev 9=.-% 8s (+=*-: Hab *=;-' <ech .=;-.:B <ech 9=.-;B Rev =,B-: E7od *%=%: $eut :=%%-%+ $eut '=.-+ Hud! :=%&-%% 8s (+=*-( Isa .'=% Isa %9=*-( Isa +:=.'-%. <ech .(=.* Rev 9=+-9 Iev %9=%9 $eut :=.* $eut ..=.( $eut %;=+. %F!s:=l Her %=* ENek (=.9-.:B $an +=%: Hos %=;"%% A2os ;=..-.% Rev 9=:-; 8rov+=+ Her .(=.%B Her .+=%-*B

Her %.=9-'B Her %(=.& Her %'=.:-.; ENek +=.%".:B ENek .(=.+-%.B ENek %'=+-; ENek **=%:B Hos ;=. Hos .*=.(B Rev 9='-.. Gen (=.&-.. E7od %'=.% Iev (=:B Iev .:=..B $eut *%=(*B %F!s'=:B 8s :'=+" dnB Isa9=lff.B Isa +:=.-% $an ;=.* $an .%=9":".* Hos (= IB Hab .=% Rev 9=.%-.( 8s .&%=%+-%9 Isa .*=.&-.*B Isa *(=(B Isa +&=.-:B Isa +(=.& Her (=%*-%:B ENek *%=:-;B

ENek *;=.'-%& Hoel %= dnB Hoel %=%;-*. A2os ;=;" dnB 5ah .=+-;B Ha! %=9-'B Rev 9=.+-.: Gen *=;B . F!s %%=.'B % Chrl;=.;B 8s %=%B 8s **=.9 8s *(=.+-.; 8s(9 8s(:=;B 8s :9=(-.& Isa %=.&-..B Isa %=.:-%.B Isa 9=.B Isa %(=%.-%*B Isa *(=.%B Her (=%'B Hos .&=;B Hoel .=.+ Hoel %=. Hoel %=.. Hoel %=*.B 5ah .=9B <e h .=.(".+".;B <e h %=%-*B #al*=%B

G 4he ite2s 2arked by an asterisk are cited by at least three 2aLor co22entators.

242

4he Seven Seals #att %(=.( Mar# .*=.& #att %(=9":".& #ark T$%le >.Synoptic Apocalypse and Revelation 6
`e_ 6H1#2

Gos el Jar

Rev 9=*-( Fa2ine Rev 9=+-9 Rev 9=:-; Rev 9='-.. 4ribulation Rev :=.( Rev 9=.& Rev 9=.%-.* 4ribes #ourn Son of Rev 9=.+-.: Rev 9=.:
Rev 7H1#3 `e_ 7H3

8estilence 8ersecution

3en!eance Heavenly Si!ns

#an Co2es Send An!els

Gather Elect

.*=:";".% Iuke %.='".&".9"%+ Mar# .*=; Lu#e %.=.. Iuke %.=.. Matt %(='-.& Matt .&=.:%% Mar# 62;7'66-62 Lu#e A6;6A'66'6< #att %(='"%..%' #ark .*=.'.%( Lu#e %.=%% Matt %(=%' Mar# .*=%(-%+ Lu#e A6;A3A6

#att %(=*& Matt %(=*& Mar# %(=%9 Lu#e %.=%: Matt %(=*. Mar# .*=%: Matt A:;26 Mar# .*=%:

243

C$apter >]

Sealed Saints and t$e Tri%ulation


Beatrice S. 5eall
Editorial Synopsis* Revelation : is one of the 2ost i2 ortant se!2ents in the ro hetic series of the seven seals. It occurs as an interlude bet0een the si7th and seventh seals. Since the events of the si7th seal e7tend beyond the close of roba tion to include the second co2in! of Christ" it is obvious that the ti2e fra2e of the interlude 0ould have to overlay the last ortion of robationary ti2e in the si7th seal. It ans0ers the 1uestion forced fro2 the un0illin! li s of the i2 enitent= 4he !reat day of divine 0rath has co2e" Pand 0ho can stand before itSP Adventists have !enerally held that the sealin! an!el of :=%-*" 0ho seals GodGs end-ti2e eo le ?0hile other an!elic forces hold back the 0inds of total trouble and strife@" is to be identified 0ith the 0ork of the third an!el of .(='-... Both have a 0orld0ide 2essa!e" both resent that 2essa!e in the sa2e ti2e slot K rior to ChristGs return" and both deal 0ith the Sabbath truth. 6ne heralds it as the seal of GodGs la0 of the 4en Co22and2entsA the other 0arns a!ainst the acce tance of a counterfeit Sabbath" the 2ark of the beast. In this study the author e7 ands on 0hat is involved in the sealin! 0ork" the characteristics of the sealed" and the tribulation eriod that faces the sealed saints ?the .(("&&&@ 0hen the 0inds of strife and ersecution are released" ulti2ately follo0ed by the seven last la!ues. Althou!h Adventists have !enerally se arated the .(("&&& fro2 the !reat 2ultitude seen before the throne in the interludeGs closin! scene" evidence su orts the belief that they are one and the sa2e !rou . 4hat is" the sealed .(("&&& symboli2e the !reat 2ultitude fro2 every nation" kindred" and ton!ue 0ho 0ill re2ain loyal to God in the closin! conflict of the !reat controversy bet0een God and Satan. 4hese 0ill eventually stand victorious before the throne of God and the Ia2b. Althou!h the sealed saints are e7 osed to the P0rathP of the dra!on and his associate a!encies" they are sustained and rotected by God 0ho" in sealin! the2" ackno0led!es the2 as His o0n treasured ossession. 4heir key virtue 0ill be an undyin!" unyieldin! faith that is riveted to the 8erson and ro2ises of Christ.
245

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

C$apter Outline
I. Introduction II. Covenant 4he2es>Allusions III* Chiastic Counter art I3. 4he 4ribulation 3. 4he Sealin! VI* Co22entary on Revelation < VII* T$e .(("&&& and t$e Great #ultitude VIII* Characteristics of the Sealed ID. So2e 4heolo!ical Concerns

Introduction
Y , evelation : ictures the security of GodGs servants in the 2idst of p4# earthGs final crisis. 4his se!2ent of the seal series occurs as an inter-,A,Hude %et(een the cataclys2ic events o, the si t$ seal and the silence of the seventh. 4o !ras its si!nificance 0e 0ill e7 lore several areas in this study.

Covenant T$emesXAllusions
4he book of Revelation ?in common 0ith nonins ired a ocaly tic literature@ sho0s ho0 the covenant ro2ises o, a !lorious future 0ill be ulti2ately fulfilled to the eo le o, 0od*6 It reveals history as a controversy bet0een t$e forces of !ood and evil" the latter causin! !reat havoc to t$e covenant eo le until 0od finally intervenes and con1uers. Revelation < develops the covenant the2es announced in t$e recedin! cha ters.

. 4he roble2 that a ocaly tic literature confronts is the a arent failure of the covenant. 4he covenant bet0een God and Israel sti ulated that if they observed the co22and2ents they 0ould be re0ardedA if they did not" they 0ould be unished. But 2any ti2es it see2ed that the 2ost faithful 0ere ersecuted. ?See. $. S. RussellGs discussion of the relationshi of a ocaly tic to failed ro hecy in The )etho$ an$ )essage o" #ewish po!alypti! T8hiladel hia" .'9(U" .;.-;*.@ 246

Sealed Saints and t$e Tri%ulation T$e Seven C$urc$es; Covenant Allusions T$e 2essa!es to the seven c$urc$es introduce the covenant t$eme' 0ith Besus as suFerain E5t$e ruler of #in!s on earth"P 6;3H e7hortin! t$e c$urc$es to %e loyal to their Soverei!n even unto deat$ ?%=.&@.% T$e promises to the churches can %e seen as covenant %lessin!s' and the t$reats as covenant curses* T$e maGor violation (arned a!ainst is apostasy Eloss of love' A;:J apat$y' *=.A and lu#e(armness' 2;66J or in terms o, a 2arria!e covenant' ,ornication' %=.("AMJ cf. .(=;A 6<;6-AH* 8unish2ents for violatin! the covenant include e7co22unication ?%=+A 2;66H' (ar EA;66H' and deat$ ?%=%*@. T$e covenant %lessin!s include t$e !ift o, the 0hite robe ?*=+@" deliverance ,rom t$e hour of trial E2;6MH' a place in t$e te2 le o, 0od ?*=.%@" and the name o, 0od on t$e ,ore$ead ?*=.%@K all conspicuous in c$apter <* Covenant "lessin!sXCurses As &redictions In both the 8entateuch and Revelation the covenant blessin!s and curses are" in a sense" redictions" outlinin! the future conse1uences of obedience or disobedience. 4he 4orah narrates the !ivin! of the covenantA the rest of the 6ld 4esta2ent is the account of 0hat ha ened to Israel 0hen they obeyed or violated the covenant. 4he book of Revelation follo0s a si2ilar attern. T$e ,irst unit' like the 4orah" s ells out the covenant' ($ile the rest o, the book tells ($at 0ould $appen in conse1uence of ad$erence to or violation of t$e covenant. T$e .(("&&& of t$e .% tri%es of Israel ?that is" t$e church@ standin! 0ith t$e Ia2b on #ount aion ERev .(=.@ are t$e ,ait$,ulJ t$e harlot "a%ylon is Israel Esym%oliFin! a!ain" the church@ in
% As Jillia2 H. Shea has ointed out" aft the ele2ents of the covenant arc found in Revelation= identification of the suNerain kin! ?.=+@" recital of his acts of benevolence entitlin! hi2 to the loyalty of his vassals ?vs. +@" sti ulations or co22ands de2andin! loyalty to hi2 alone ?%=.&@" rovisions to de osit the treaty docu2ent and read it ?.=*@" and blessin!s and curses u on those 0ho kee orviolate the covenant ?the ro2ises and threats to the seven churches@. Shea analyNes the covenant structure of the 2essa!es to the seven churches. Further study needs to be !iven to the develo 2ent of the covenant the2e in the rest of Revelation. ?P4he Covenantal For2 of the Ietters to the Seven Churches"P ;SS %.>. TS rin! .';*U= :.-;(.@ * #uch in Rev . recalls the !ivin! of the covenant at Sinai. Hesus Pfreed us fro2 our sinsP ?vs. +@ as He freed Israel fro2 bonda!eA Pby his bloodP su!!ests the blood of the 8assover la2b on the eve of IsraelGs deliverance. He P2ade us a kin!do2" riests to his 0od5 ?vs. 9@ as Israel 0as to be Pa kin!do2 of riests and a holy nationP ?E7od .'=9@. Hesus a eared to Hohn 0ith Pa loud voice like a tru2 etP ?vs. .&@ re2iniscent of the tru2 et blast at Sinai ?E7od .'=.9".'@. +is Peyes 0ere like a fla2e of fireP ?vs. .(@ recall the fire on the 2ount ?E7od .'=.;@. HohnGs rostrate res onse recalls IsraelGs fear before the over o0erin! theo hany.

247

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation a ostasy.( T$e %oo# narrates in vivid detail t$e resultin! conflict %et(een ,ait$,ul and apostate Israel*

T$e Seals; Covenant Allusions


4he seals unit" of 0hich cha ter seven is the cli2a7" de icts the outco2e of the blessin!s and curses u on the churches. First is seen the SuNerain on His throne" encircled 0ith the covenant rainbo0" entitled to 0orshi because +e created all thin!s ?(=%-..@. 4he Ia2b also is 0orthy of 0orshi because of His su re2e act of benevolenceKdyin! to redee2 His eo le ?+=9"'".%@. Since it 0as He 0ho took the2 fro2 every nation and tribe" and 2ade the2 a kin!do2" they res ond in covenant loyalty and 0orshi ?+='-.&@. 4he Ia2b then takes a book fro2 the one Pseated on the throneP ?+=." :-;@ and o ens its seals one by one. As He does so" the future of the church unfolds in covenant blessin!s and curses. 4he 0hite horse ersonifies the covenant blessin! of con1uest= the church victorious" !oin! forth to con1uer ?9=%A cf. Iev %9=:-;Kthe covenant blessin! of victory over ene2ies@. Here are re resented the con1uests of the a ostolic church. 4he red" black" and ale horses are sy2bolic ersonifications of the covenant curses resultin! fro2 a ostasy= s0ord" fa2ine" estilence" and death by 0ild beasts ?9=*-;" note the su22ary at the end of verse ;@. + Since the churches have not heeded ChristGs 0arnin!s ?Rev <-B5 they have beco2e subLect to the threats of s0ord and death ?%=.9"%*@. 9 Jhenever the covenant curses !o into effect" the ri!hteous re2nant also suffers ?as did $aniel and his friends durin! the ca tivity@. /nder the fifth seal the cry rin!s out fro2 Pthe souls under the altarPKthose 0ho have been faithful to the covenant" but 0ho have suffered ersecution
( For the fi!ure o, t$e $arlot Babylon Bo$n dra(s heavily on the Old 4esta2ent icture ofIsrael as t$e $arlot 0ife of Mah0eh. Covenant lan!ua!e is used to sho0 Israel9s violation of t$e 2arria!e vo(* aec$aria$ ortrays Israel9s P0ickednessP as a hidden Babylonian 0o2an ?<ech +=+-..@. Isaia$ ?.=%.@" +osca ?%=%"(@" Here2iah ?*=.-*" ;-'@" and es ecially ENekiel ?.9=.+-*(@ describe apostate Israel ($o' as t$e (i,e o, Ka$(e$' beca2e the !reatest rostitute on eart$' subLect to t$e covenant 0rath o, 0od* Also t(o of the o0ers in t$e 5,alse trinityP Kthe dra!on" beast" and false ro het" 0hich arody t$e heavenly 4rinityKare a ostate Christian" 2i2ickin! Hesus C$rist and t$e +oly S irit. 5T$e beast"P like the Lam%' 0as 0ounded to deat$' and healed or resurrected ?.*=*@. T$e t$ird %east 0as li#e a Ia2b and had po(er to breathe life into an i2a!e. "y t$ese ,i!ures Hohn is sayin! that t$ese hostile o0ers 0ere seudo-Christian. 3 C,*EFe# 6:;A6. 0od9s Pfour sore acts of Lud!2entP based on the covenant cuises of Lev %9=%%" A3'A6* 6 T$e curses are in$erent in a ostasy itself" since turnin! a0ay fro2 0od leads to strife" fa2ine for the 0ord o, 0od ?the ($eat and the barley@" t$e estilence of heresy" and death by 0ild beasts" later described in Rev 6A'.*" and .: as ersecution of the faithful by a trinity of ,ierce beasts.

24"

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

fro2 the a ostate church. P& Soverei!n Iord" holy and true" ho0 lon! before thou 0ilt Lud!e and aven!e our blood on those 0ho d0ell u on the earthSP ?9=.&@. 4hese faithful ones cry to their SuNerain for Lustice. As PSoverei!n Iord" holy and true"P He has led!ed Hi2self to be faithful to His covenant ro2ises.G 4he 2artyrsB ur!ent cry for Lustice beco2es ivotal to the rest of the book.; 4o their 1uestion" PHo0 lon!SP the ans0er is !iven" Puntil their fello0 servants and their brethren 0ho 0ere to be killed as they the2selves had been should be co2 leteP ?9=.." Greek@. Fro2 the te7t it is not clear 0hether their number or !hara!ter is to be 2ade co2 lete" since the 0ord number is not in the Greek te7t. In either case it is te2 tin! to see in Revelation : the fulfill2ent of this ro2ise. 4he servants of God are co2 lete in nu2ber ?.(("&&&@ and in character ?they are sealed in covenant loyalty to God@. 4he !reat 2ultitude before the throne are clothed in 0hite robes ?:='@. 4hey e7 erience the ulti2ate covenant blessin!= d0ellin! 0ith God in His sanctuary ?cf. E7od %+=;@" that is" they serve God P0ithin his te2 leP >en e`ba? autou5 as He s reads His tabernacle over the2 >s.enosei ep+autou, :=.+A cf. %.=*@. 4hus" Revelation : hi!hli!hts the fact that in the 2idst of a ostasy God has His true Israel" loyal to Hi2" 0ho 0ill 0ithstand the conflict 0ith evil and receive the ulti2ate blessin!s of the covenant.

C$iastic Counterpart
4he unit on the seals in the first art of Revelation ?(=.-;=.@ is echoed by a corres ondin! unit near the end of the book ?.'=.-%.=;@. 4he first could be called the historical sealsA the last 0e 2i!ht ter2 the eschatolo!i-cal Pseals.P 4he Phistorical sealsP are nu2bered fro2 one to sevenA an e1ual nu2ber ofPeschatolo!ical sealsP are 2arked off by the for2ula Pand I sa0P >.ai ei$on5. Hence it is ossible to 2atch the2 e7actly. Jithin this structure there is a arallel vision to cha ter : 0hich sheds li!ht u on it. 4his dia!ra2 is ada ted fro2 the literary arran!e2ent 0orked out by Jillia2 H. Shea.'
: 4he 6ld 4esta2ent 2eanin! of true and truth is Pconstancy to a li!hted 0ord or ur ose" faithfulness.P R- H. Charles" (riti!al an$ E0egeti!al (ommentary on the Revelation o" St. #ohn, < vols-" ICC ?Edinbur!h" .'%&@" .=;+-;9. = T$e cry ,rom the altar sho0s the Hustice of 2akin! their ersecutors drink blood ?.9=(-:@. 4hese sa2e ersons 0ill eventually sit on thrones to Lud!e their ersecutors ?%&=(@. ' PIiterary Structure and the Inter retation of RevelationP ?un ublished 2anuscri t".';;@" ..-.'.

24.

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

C$iastic Structure o, t$e Seals


T$e Seven +istorical Seals Cha ters (-+ Sanctuary Scene A throne 0ith God on it. Four livin! creatures and %( elders 0orshi Hi2. 8raise to the Ia2b. 3oice fro2 throne" thunder. The Seven .schatolo/*cal +Seals+

67;6-6M

Sanctuary Scene

40enty-four elders and four livin! creatures (ors$ip One seated on the throne. #arria!e of the Ia2b. 3oice fro2 throne" thunder. 6bservations= Initially God is raised for CreationA at the end of ti2e" for His 0ork of Lud!2ent. At first the Ia2b is raised for ranso2in! +is eo leA at the end His bride is raised for re arin! for 2arria!e to the Ia2b. .'=..-.9
6H3#4 2

9=.-% . .'=..-.9 . Jhite horse 0ith rider 0ho had bo0 and Jhite horse 0ith rider ($o has s0ord cro0n. +e !oes out con1uerin!" 2akes 0ar. Has diade2s on head. 6bservations= At the be!innin! of the Christian Era Hesus leads His church to initial victories. At the end of ti2e Hesus consu22ates the victory over His ene2ies. .'=.:-.; %

Iivin! creature calls PCo2e.P Ri$er on red horse takes peace fro2 earthA 2en slay one "east and false ro het 0ho deceived beast-0orshi ers thro0n into lake of fire. 6bservations= 4he a ostate church 0hich caused a fa2ine for the Jord ?0heat and barley@" and threatened to obscure the S irit and the !os el ?oil and 0ine@" is eventually thro0n into the lake of fire. another. Rider has s0ord. An!el calls PCo2eP to birds to eat flesh of 6bservations= 4he church in a ostasy ?red" color of sin@ brin!s in strife. At the end those ca tains" horses an$ riders. 0ho lulled are the2selves killed and eaten by vultures. .'=.'-%.
6H5#6

*
3

Rider on black horse has balance in hand-Jheat and barley sold for e7orbitant riceA oil and 0ine endan!ered.

6H7#" 4 Iivin! creature cries PCo2e.P Deat$ on ale horse" follo0ed by Hades" !iven o0er to kill fourth of earth by s0ord" fa2ine" estilence" and 0ild beasts.

%&=.-*":-.& ( An!el 0ith #ey and chain seiNes dra!on" thro0s hi2 into it" and seals it so he can deceive nations no 2ore.

6bservations= Satan" ridin! the a ostate church" intensifies the (or# of destruction 0hile his acco2 lice" +ades' s0allo0s the dead. In the end Satan is hi2self thro0n into the it and confined there.

25$

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation


9='-.. + Souls under the altar slain for their testi2ony to Hesus" cry out to God to aven!e their blood on earth-d0ellers. Ibid to 0aitA !iven 0hite robes. 6bservations= 4he souls under the altar are eventually elevated to sit on thrones. 4he ones %&=(-9 + Souls slain for testi2ony to Hesus co2e to life and are elevated to thrones 0here they the2selves do the Lud!in!. 0ho cried out to God to Lud!e their ersecutors are the2selves !iven the o0er to Lud!e. 9=.%-.: 6 S#y vanis$es like rolled-u scroll* Fin!s" !enerals" eo les" $ide fro2 face of One seated on throne and Lam%* 6bservations= 8rior to the second co2in! of %&=.. 9 Earth and sky flee fro2 Christ the vault of heaven vanishes" e7 osin! resence of Hi2 the 0icked 0orld to the resence of God on His throne and to the 0rath of the Ia2b. At 0ho sits on !reat 0hite throne. the end of the thousand years the 0icked 0orld a!ain stands arrai!ned before the throne of God. Cha ter : Interlude .(("&&& of Israel are sealed. Great 2ultitude fro2 every tribe stand before throne raisin! God for salvation. 5o 2ore hun!er" thirstA God 0i es tears fro2 eyes. Ia2b leads to livin! 0ater. God tabernacles over the2.
%.=.-;A %%=. I-U* Interlude

".%&=.%-.+ : Dead stand before throneA %oo#s are o ened. "oo# o, life o ened. Dead Lud!ed by 0hat is 0ritten in %oo#s* Deat$ and +ades thro0n into la#e o, ,ire*

;=. : Ia2b o ens seventh seal ?2akin! it ossible to o en the book@. 4here is silence in heaven for half an hour.

5e0 Berusalem descends. 0od d0ells 0ith +is eo leA 0i es tears a0ay" no 2ore death" cryin!" ain. Water o" life ,or thirsty. T$e tabernacle o, 0od is" (it$ 2en.

6bservations= 4he o enin! of the seventh seal re2oves the last barrier to o enin! the book. 4he silence in heaven for half an hour 2i!ht a ly to heavenGs silence as the livin! are arrai!ned before Christ at His second co2in!. ?4his a ears to be a Lud!2ent scene because its chiastic counter art is a Lud!2ent scene.@ At the end of the thousand years the dead are arrai!ned before the throne and Hud!ed accordin! to the books of record. 4he book of life is also o ened" revealin! 0ho are saved and 0ho are lost. ?4he interludes.@ Hud!in! fro2 the conte7ts" the ti2e fra2e of each interlude see2s clear. Revelation : de icts the security of the saints durin! the scenes connected 0ith the second co2in!" 0hereas Revelation %. sho0s the security of the saints at the end of the thousand years. Revelation : de icts .% tribes of faithful IsraelA Revelation %. de icts the bride>city ?2arked 0ith the na2es of the .% tribes@. At both events God tabernacles 0ith the2. 4hey neither hun!er nor thirst" for God !ives the2 livin! 0ater. 8ain" cryin!" and death are no 2oreA God 0i es the tears fro2 their eyes.

%+.

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

4he historical seals a ear to be!in at the ascension>!lorification of Christ ?+=9" '@ and ter2inate 0ith the second co2in! ?9=.9-.:A ;=.@. 4he eschatolo!ical PsealsP be!in at the Second Advent ?.'=. Iff.@ and ter2inate at the end of the thousand years ?%.=.-;@. 4here are Lud!2ent scenes both at the Second Advent and at the end of the thousand years" in 0hich the rebellious 0orld stands arrai!ned before God on His throne. At the ti2e of each event the ri!hteous are secure. At the Second Advent they are already sealed ?:=*@A at the e7ecutive Lud!2ent" they are found 0ritten in the book of life ?%&=.%" .+@. Both PinterludesP icture relief fro2 trouble= In the for2er case" fro2 the !reat tribulation ?:=.(@A in the latter" fro2 all the sorro0s of life ?%.=(@. Each ti2e God rovides relief by tabe2aclin! 0ith His eo le" 0i in! the tears fro2 their eyes" and 1uenchin! their thirst 0ith the 0ater of life.

The TribLlation
Revelation :=.-* describes a ti2e 0hen the four 0inds of the earth are about to be unleashed to har2 the land" the sea" and the trees. 3erse .( refers to Pthe !reat tribulationPK resu2ably the sa2e event. 4he !reat tribulation is first 2entioned in $aniel .%=. in the settin! of the final act of the Pkin! of the north"P 0ho !oes forth 0ith !reat fury to Pe7ter2inate and utterly destroy 2anyP as he re ares to attack the P!lorious holy 2ountainP ?$an ..=((-(+@. 4his is 0hat unleashes the ti2e of trouble or tribulation Xthiipsis in both $aniel .%=." Se tua!int" and Revelation :=.(@.
+e shall !o forth 0ith !reat fury to e7ter2inate and utterly destroy 2any. And he shall itch his alatial tents bet0een the sea and the !lorious holy 2ountain.... At that ti2e shall arise #ichael" the !reat rince 0ho has char!e of your eo le. And there shall be a ti2e of trouble" such as never has been since there 0as a nation till that ti2eA but at that ti2e your eo le shall be delivered. ?$an ..=((-.%=.@

Hohn uses si2ilar sy2bolis2 to describe the saints 0ho are 0ith the Ia2b on #ount <ion havin! been reviously attacked by hostile o0ers fro2 the sea and the earth 0ho had conde2ned the2 to death ?Rev .(=.A .*=."..".+@. Hesus also referred to the tribulation 2entioned by $aniel" a lyin! it both to the destruction of Herusale2 and to a subse1uent lon! eriod of ersecution=
252

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation


So 0hen you see the desolatin! sacrile!e s oken of by the ro het $aniel" standin! in the holy lace... then let those 0ho are in Hudea flee to the 2ountains.... For then there 0ill be !reat tribulation" such as has not been fro2 the be!innin! of the 0orld until no0" no" and never 0ill be. ... I22ediately after the tribulation of those days the sun 0ill be darkened"... then 0ill a ear the si!n of the Son of 2an in heaven. ?#att %(=.+-*&A #ark .*=.(-%&@

$aniel identifies three occasions 0hen the Pdesolatin! sacrile!eP 0ould invade the holy land or te2 le and attack the covenant eo le= ?.@ the destruction of Herusale2 ?$an '=%9-%:@A ?%@ the o ression of the covenant eo le 0hen they 0ould Pfall by s0ord and fla2e" by ca tivity and lunderP for the Pti2e" t0o ti2es" and half a ti2eP ?..=*.-*+A :=%+@A and ?*@ a Final attack at the Pti2e of the endP ?..=(&-.%=.@. Hesus a ears to blend these first t0o events" referrin! clearly to the destruction of Herusale2 ?#att %(=.+-%&A cf. Iuke %.=%&@ and to a later" lon!er eriod of ersecution ?#att %(=%." see also the Pfallin! a0ayP of verses. '-.&" an allusion to $an ll=*(b-*+@. Hust as the resence of the Ro2ans in the holy areas of Herusale2 2arked a ti2e for GodGs eo le to flee in a ostolic ti2es" and antichristGs seatin! hi2self in the te2 le>church of God ?% 4hess %=*-(@ 2arked a ti2e of !reat ersecution in the #iddle A!es" so SatanGs final attack on the end-ti2e church ?Rev .%=.:A .*=.+-.:@ 0ill reci itate the !reat tribulation of the last days. Another reference to the ti2e of trouble is in Here2iah *&=+-:= GAlasV that day is so !reat there is none like itA it is a ti2e of distress for HacobA yet he shall be saved out of it.P Here2iah 0as redictin! the horrors of the Babylonian ca tivity about to afflict the He0s" in ter2s of HacobGs distress 0hen he faced an attack by the ar2y of Esau. HacobGs an!uish" as he 0restled 0ith an an!el" has co2e to sy2boliNe the ti2e of trouble 0hich GodGs eo le 0ill e7 erience in the last days. 4hus" the final tribulation is ty ified by several earlier troubles= the Babylonian ca tivity ?described in ter2s of HacobGs an!uish@" the attack on Herusale2 by the Ro2ans" and the ersecution durin! the Pti2e" ti2es" and half a ti2eP of the 2edieval eriod ?+*;-.:';@. All of these events" 2entioned in the book of $aniel" are characteriNed by ene2y attacks u on the sanctuary and the eo le of God. 4he final !reat tribulation is also referred to as the Phour of trial 0hich is co2in! on the 0hole 0orld" to try those 0ho d0ell u on the earthP ?Rev. *=.&@. Earth d0ellers could be the 0icked in !eneral" but 2ay re resent
253

Sealed Sa2tsxarid the 4ribulation

2ore s ecifically a ostate Christians ?see footnote %*@. 4hese 0ill be tried and found 0antin!. A study of Revelation : 0ill reveal that God has 2ade a2 le rovision for rotectin!" nurturin!" and co2fortin! His eo le durin! this ti2e. 4he !reat tribulation can be a ti2e of s ecial closeness to God if His eo le have 2ade a habit of co2in! Pboldly before the throne of !raceP and raisin! Hi2 durin! the crises of life.

4he Sealin!
Before the !reat tribulation co2es u on the 0orld" an an!el is su22oned to seal the eo le of God u on their foreheads.
4hen I sa0 another an!el ascend fro2 the risin! of the sun" 0ith the seal of the livin! God" and he called 0ith a loud voice to the four an!els 0ho had been !iven o0er to har2 earth and sea" sayin!" P$o not har2 the earth or the sea or the trees" till 0e have sealed the servants of our God u on their foreheads.P ?:=%-*@

Jhile the saints receive GodGs seal" His ene2ies receive a 2ark u on the ri!ht hand or forehead" kno0n as Pthe 2ark of the beastP ?.9=%@.
Also it causes all" both s2all and !reat" both rich and oor" both free and slave" to be 2arked on the ri!ht hand or the forehead" so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the 2ark" that is" the na2e of the beast or the nu2ber of its na2e. ?.*=.9-.:@

Sealin! or 2arkin! eo le and thin!s had the follo0in! 2eanin!s in Bible ti2es= C$aracter Li#eness 4he seal of God consists of the na2e of God u on the forehead.
+e 0ho con1uers"... I 0ill 0rite on hi2 the na2e of 2y God"... and 2y o0n ne0 na2e. ?*=.%@ 4hen I looked" and lo" on #ount <ion stood the Ia2b" and 0ith hi2 a hundred and forty-four thousand 0ho had his na2e and his FatherGs na2e 0ritten on their foreheads. ?.(=.@ 4hey shall see his face" and his na2e shall be on their foreheads. ?%%=(@

4he 2ark of the beast consists of the beastGs na2e u on the forehead or hand ?.*=.:@. In anti1uity a na2e 2eant 2uch 2ore than a label. It re 254

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation resented character. Jhen God roclai2ed His Pna2eP to #oses" He described His character= 2erciful" !racious" slo0 to an!er ?E7od *(=+-:@. 4hus" the rece tion of the 2ark of the beast and the seal of God" consistin! of the na2es of the beast and of God" denotes confor2ity to the character of Satan or God. In the final conflict everyone 0ill bear the i2a!e of the de2onic or the divine..&

60nershi
4he sealin! or 2arkin! of ani2als" obLects" and 2en" indicated o0nershi . 8eo le 0ere often sealed by 2arks u on the body= A servantGs ear 0as ierced to sho0 he belon!ed to his 2aster forever ?E7od %.=9@A circu2cision 0as a 2ark u on the body sho0in! that Israel belon!ed to Mah-0eh ?Gen .:='-.%@. 4he hi!h riest in the Israelite sanctuary0ore a turban 0ith a late over his forehead en!raved 0ith the 0ords" PHoly to the IordP ?E7od %;=*9-*;@" indicatin! his s ecial consecration to God. Since the saints are called riests in Revelation ?.=9A +=.&A %&=9@" the 2ark on their forehead su!!ests this dedication to God. Isaiah described the Loy of bein! 2arked for God. P4his one 0ill say" i a2 the IordGs"G another 0ill call hi2self by the na2e of Hacob" and another 0ilt 0rite on his hand" P4he IordGs"G and surna2e hi2self by the na2e of IsraelP ?((=+@. Conversely" God en!raves <ion on the al2s of His hands ?('=.9@. T$e sealin!" then" is a 2arkin! off of the eo le as belon!in! to God" +is ossession... Si2ilarly" those 2arked 0ith the na2e of the beast are the ro erty of the beast. 8rotection Sealin! 0as a si!n not only of ossession but also of rotection. Jhatever is called by so2eoneGs na2e co2es under the rotection as 0ell as the authority of the o0ner. 4he conce t of a 2ark or seal to indicate rotection is as old as the 2ark on Cain ?Gen (=.+@. 4he blood of the 8assover la2b s rinkled u on the door osts of Israelite ho2es 0as a si!n to the destroyin! an!el that he should ass over their ho2es ?E7od .%=:".%-.*@. ENekielGs vision of Lud!2ent sho0s a 0riter 0ith an inkho2 settin! a 2ark u on the faithful to rotect the2 fro2 death by the e7ecutioner ?ENek '=(-+@..%
.& Sec my dissertation" P4he Conce t o, Character in the A ocaly seP ?Jashin!ton" DC; /niversity 8ress of A2erica" .';*@" .('-+*. .. Gotlfried FitNer. PS hra!is"P 89f8P>gQPg5, '*'-+*. .% Otto "etF' PSti!2a"P 8hfi ?.':.@= 9+:-9(. 255

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

4he seal of God is intended to rotect the saints fro2 de2onic o0ers 0ho torture 2en so that they seek death rather than life ?Rev '=(-9@. Also the saints are rotected fro2 the seven last la!ues" 0hich fall only u on the beast-0orshi ers ?.9=%@. 4he seal" then" rotects the saints fro2 defeat by the ene2y and the Lud!2ents of God. It does not rotect the2 fro2 the 0rath of the beast ?.*=.+".:@. Si2ilarly" the 2ark of the beast rotects its follo0ers fro2 the ersecution of the beast" but not fro2 the 0rath of God ?.(='-..@. 0enuineness Sealin! also indicates !enuineness. In the ancient 0orld vessels" houses" !raves" and docu2ents 0ere sealed as a !uarantee a!ainst violation or chan!e..* 4he seal denotes reliability ?Hohn 9=%:@. Saints are sealed to 2ake the2 GodGs o0n inviolable ossession. .( 4he seal on the saints !uarantees their i22unity to a ostasy and their eternal security durin! the !reat tribulation..+ 4heir characters are fi7ed in loyalty to God. As con1uerors" bearin! GodGs na2e on their foreheads" they never2ore !o out of His te2 le ?Rev *=.%@. Bein! ri!hteous" they are ri!hteous still ?%%=..@. Si!ni,icance o, t$e 1ore$eadX+and The forehead and hand as the sites for receivin! the 2ark and the seal are si!nificant. 4hese ter2s are first 2entioned in the 8entateuch .9 in connection 0ith the co22ands of God= PMou shall bind the2 as a si!n u on your hand" and they shall be as frontlets bet0een your eyesP ?$eut 9=;@. 4he conte7t indicates that this 2eans the total res onse of the 2ind" e2otions" and behavior= PMou shall love the Iord your God 0ith all your heart" and 0ith all your soul" and 0ith all your 2i!htP in every activity of life" 0hether teachin! or talkin!" sittin! or 0alkin!" lyin! do0n or risin! u ?$eut 9=+-;@. 4he forehead sy2boliNes the 2ind" the thou!ht-lifeA and the ri!ht hand indicates the deed or action. Both rival o0ers 0ish to control the 2ind and behavior. 4he follo0ers of the Ia2b all have the na2e of God u on their foreheadsA 0hereas the follo0ers of the beast have the 2ark on the forehead ?indicatin! belief" alle!iance@ or the hand only ?indicatin! forced obedience 0ithout 2ental assent@.
62 1itFer* .( A Cor .=%%A Ep$ 6;62-6:J (=*&. 1G MocWseJa, MerJan, Behold9e3o+etfti4 n 16position of-the Boo& of4Revelation QDrand Rapids, 11617, 25.. 66 E od .*='".9A Deut* 6;3-=J ..=.;"%&.

256

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

0od9s Commandments in t$e Mar#-Seal Controversy Astudy of the 2ark of the beast ?Rev .* and .(@ and the seal or na2e of God ?:=%-*A .(=.@ reveals that the co22and2ents of God are a ri2ary issue in the conflict. 0od9s la0 su%stituted %y t$e %east9s* 4he 2ark on the ri!ht hand or forehead ?.*=.9@ is an allusion to $euterono2y 9=9-;" 0here God co22anded Israel to bind His co22and2ents ?es ecially the 4en Co22and2ents Lust revie0ed" $eut +@ Pas a si!n u on your hand" and... as frontlets bet0een your eyes.P 4his inLunction the He0s literally carried out in the 0earin! of hylacteries. Hence" the 2ark on the hand or forehead si!nifies the 0ritin! of GodGs la0s into the 2inds and behavior of His eo le. 4he use of the forehead and hand by the beast su!!ests a arody of GodGs co22and= the substitution of the la0s of the beast for the la0 of God. Issue; o%edienceXdiso%edience* In the A ocaly se" those 0ho have the 2ark of the beast are set in contrast 0ith Pthose 0ho kee the co22and2ents of GodP ?.(='-.%@. Hence" it a ears that the 2ark-seal issue has to do 0ith the violation of the co22and2ents of God on the one hand" and the kee in! of the2 on the other. Antic$rist po(er opposed to GodGs la(* 4he antichrist o0er is cited fre1uently as bein! o osed to the la0 of God. PHe shall . . . think to chan!e the ti2es and the la0P ?$an :=%+@A he casts the truth to the !round ?;=.%@A and he hates the Pholy covenantP ?..=%;" *&" *%@ 0hich is based u on the len Co22and2ents ?$eut (=.*@. In % 4hessalonians % he is re eatedly called Pthe la0less oneP or P2ystery of la0lessnessP ?vss. *" :-'@. 1ourt$ precept involved* 4he co22and in cha ter .* to 0orshi the beast and receive his 2ark is countered by the co22and in cha ter .( to 0orshi Phi2 0ho 2ade heaven and earth" the sea and the fountains of 0aterP ?vs. :@" an allusion to the fourth co22and2ent= PFor in si7 days the Iord 2ade heaven and earth" the sea" and all that is in the2P ?E7od %&=..@. 4he 0ay to 0orshi God as Creator is to observe His Sabbath in 2e2ory of His 0ork of creation ?Gen %=. -*@. Sa%%at$; Seal o, 0od9s la(* 4he Sabbath in the heart of the la0 corres onds to the sta2 or seal of the suNerain in the heart of ancient treaty docu2ents. 4he Sabbath is a si!n or seal of GodGs authority as Creator" the s here of His authority bein! Pheaven and earth.P .: Sabbath-kee in! thus beco2es a seal u on the one 0ho bears GodGs i2a!e"
.: E od *.=.:A %&=..A 0en %=.-*. 257

Seale* Saints and the 4ribulation roclai2in! GodGs absolute soverei!nty over hi2 and his covenant consecration to God..; Sa%%at$; A distin!uis$in! si!n. 4he Sabbath is called GodGs si!n ?si!n and seal are synony2ous as in Ro2ans (=..@. Its observance by His eo le distin!uishes the2 fro2 those outside the covenant. Mou shall kee 2y sabbaths" for this is a si!n bet0een 2e and you throu!hout your !enerations" that you 2ay kno0 that I' the Iord" sanctify you.... It is a si!n for ever bet0een 2e and the eo le of Israel that in si7 days the Iord 2ade heaven and earth" and on the seventh day he rested" and 0as refreshed. ?E7od *.=.*".:@ #oreover I !ave the2 2y sabbaths" as a si!n bet0een 2e and the2" that they 2i!ht kno0 that I the Iord sanctify the2.... and hallo0 2y sabbaths that they 2ay be a si!n bet0een 2e and you" that you 2ay kno0 that I the Iord a2 your God. ?ENek %&=.%"%&@ End-time Sa%%at$ re,orm* 4he book of Revelation oints to a !reat 0ork of Sabbath refor2 in the last days. .' Jhile the sealin! an!el of Revelation :=%-* i2 resses u on the faithful the e7ternal si!n of their alle!iance to GodKobservance of the true SabbathKthe first and third an!els of Revelation .( e7hort the 0orld to 0orshi the Creator and shun the 2ark of the beast" that is" to kee the true Sabbath and not the substitute day of 0orshi ?vss. 9-.%@. %& 4his is the final test 0hich 0ill deter2ine the destiny of every hu2an bein!. 4he ne7t event is the a earance of the Son of 2an u on the clouds to rea the harvest of the earth ?Rev .(-%&@.

Timin! o, t$e Seal Jhen are the eo le of God sealedS All throu!h history GodGs eo le have had His seal. Hesus had the seal of God ?Pfor on hi2 has God the Father set his seal"P Hohn 9=%:@. God has ut His seal u on His eo le ?% Cor .=%%@A the Holy S irit is the a!ent 0ho seals" and ossession of the S irit is the !uarantee of eternal life ?E h .=.*-.(@. 4he ur ose of sealin! is to 2ake one secure for eternity" the Pday of rede2 tionPA but one can lose this security by !rievin! a0ay the S irit ?E h (=*&@. 4hus" it
6= Meredit$ 0* Dline' Treaty o" the Great Fin$0 The (ovenant Stru!ture o" &euteronomy E0rand Rapids' .'9*@" 6=-67* 67 T$e end-time Sa%%at$ re,orm by 0od9s eo le in a 0orid do2inated %y s iritual "a%ylon 2ay be seen as a arallel to the Sa%%at$ re,orm of ancient Israel released fro2 Babylonian e ile ?Isa 3=;6A-6:H*-Ed* %& )ria$ Smit$ %elieved t$at the sealin! an!el of Rev : and the third an!el o, Rev .( 0ere identical 9"anie% and the &eve%ation NMountain 3ie0" CA' .;':H" (99-9:@. !G

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

a ears that the saints of all a!es have been sealed. Jhat" then" is the 2eanin! and ur ose of the sealin! in Revelation :S Althou!h GodGs eo le throu!h the a!es have been sealed" He has had s ecial seals for s ecial crises. For e7a2 le" the blood on the door osts of Israelite ho2es at the ti2e of the E7odus 0as" in a sense" a s ecial sealin!. Hust so" the an!el fro2 the sunrisin! seals the servants of God to re are the2 for the !reatest tribulation in history ?:=.-*@. 4he seal on their foreheads !uarantees their fi7ity of character= ri!hteous" they 0ill be ri!hteous still ?%%=..@. 4he eschatolo!ical seal is their s ecial rotection durin! the final crisis. 4he 2ark-seal controversy in the last days has to do 0ith a conflict bet0een the o0ers of Christ and antichrist. Every individual 0ill bear the seal of God or the 2ark of the beast" indicatin! fi7ity of character in the i2a!e of God or Satan. &reparation ,or t$e End-Time Sealin! T$e best re aration for the sealin! is contained in the 2essa!e to the 8hiladel hia church" 0hich correlates closely 0ith cha ter :.P 4o this church is !iven the rivile!e of the o en door ?*=;@Kthe door to the throne roo2 and her ever livin! hi!h riest ?(=.(-.9A :=%+@. If it is hard for the2 to Pco2e u hither"P they are assured that the heavenly city co2es do0n to the2 ?*=.%@" !ivin! the2 easy access to God. 4his is a ictures1ue 0ay of describin! an active devotional life. 4he 1ualities they have 0hich assure that they 0ill be ke t fro2 the hour of trial ?vs. .&@ are that they cherish the 0ord" do not deny the faith ?vs. ;@" and atiently endure ?vs. .&@. 4hey are e7horted to hold fast to these 1ualities" so as not to lose their cro0n ?vs. ..@" and to be a2on! the con1uerors ?vs. .%@. 5o better counsel could be !iven to GodGs servants today.

Commentary on Revelation <


8recedin! Revelation : is a icture of a terrified 0orld arrai!ned before the throne of God and the Ia2b" cryin! out" P4he !reat day of their 0rath has co2e" and 0ho shall be able to standSP ?the si7th seal" 9=.9-.:@. Cha ter : consists of t0o se!2ents 0hich contrast the re aredness of the saints 0ith the anic of the doo2ed 0orld. 4he first se!2ent or vision ?:=.%. 5ote the arallels= ke t Pfro2 the hour of trialP ?*=.&@A Pco2e out of !reat tribulationP ?:=.(@. PI (ul 0rite on hi2 t$e name of 2y 0od5 ?*=.%@A Psealed... u on their foreheadsP ?:=*@. #ade Pa illar in the te2 le of my 0odJ never shall he !o out of itP ?*=.%@A Pserve hi2 day and ni!ht 0ithin his te2 leP ?:=.+@.

25.

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

;@ sho0s that only those 0ho are sealed 0ill stand in the day of 0rath about to break u on the 0orld. 4he second ?:='-.:@ sho0s the triu2 h of the redee2ed as they co2e out of the !reat tribulation. Verses 6-2 Si!nificance o, the sym%ols* Initially" four an!els are ictured standin! at the four corners of the earth holdin! back the four 0inds until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads ?:=." *@. In a ocaly tic thou!ht an!els have control over the ele2ents ?here over 0indsA also over fire and 0ater" .(=.;A .9=+@. 4he four 0inds re resent 0arfare and strife er2itted by God and brou!ht about by hu2an a!encies.%% 4he 0inds are said to 2enace earth" sea" and the trees ?vss. ."*@" 0ith trees es ecially 2entioned because of their vulnerability to stor2. Sy2bolically" 0hen earth and sea are Lu7ta osed" earth often re resents the ordered 0orld" or even the land of Israel" 0hile sea refers to the Gentile nations that 2enace it as the sea 2enaces the land. %* Trees in sy2bolis2 refer to o0erful individuals and nationsA !rass to transitory hu2an life. %( Both are vulnerable to the cala2ities about to take laceA yet the !reen !rass and trees under the rotection of God cannot be hurt ?'=(@. At this oint another an!el ascends fro2 the risin! of the sun ?2eanin!
%% Here2iah used the four 0inds as sy2bols of destructionKevil" the s0ord" and the fierce an!er of God K unleashed a!ainst t$e nations by 5ebuchadneNNar ?Her ('=*+-*:@. $aniel describes four 0inds stirrin! u the !reat sea Ka fi!ure ,or tur2oil a2on! the nations as four 2aLor o0ers 0ere to arise ?$an :=%@. So2eti2es nations 0ere fated to be scattered to(ard the four 0inds of heaven ?$an ..=(@" that is" to be at the 2ercy of the destructive o0ers. 4hus the 0inds of Rev : co2in! fro2 the four co2ers of the earth arc destructive. %* For earth as the holy land" see E7od %&=.%A 8s *:=.. ?cf. #att +=+@. 4he sea in ancient thou!ht be ca2e the e2bodi2ent of the s here of disaster since it is connected 0ith the abyss ?Heb. tehom, Gr. abussos5. It is the habitat of the dra!on ?Isa%:=lA +.='A 8s :(=.*-.(@ and redatory beasts rise fro2 it ?$an :=%-*A Rev .*=.@. ?&. Bocher" PJater" Iake" Sea" Jell" River"P &NTTB T.':;U= ';%-;+.@ -aters 2ean multitu$es, nations, and longues ?Rev .:=.(@. In the sea the o0er of 0ater hostile to 0od and 2en o oses the eo le of Israel. 4he roarin! of the sea and 0aves 2eans the tu2ult of the nations ?8s 9+=:A cf. Lu#e %.=%+@. Revelation divides t$e enemies of 0od into t0o !rou s= inhabitants of the earth and of the sea ?W%=.%@" the for2er ?called Pthose 0ho d0ell on earthP@ bein! the rofessed eo le of God but actually a ostate Christians" and the latter the vast non-Christian 0orld. %( Trees ?also vines@ in Scri ture are used as arables of eo le. Israel is a tree of GodGs lantin! ?ENek .:=+ff.A Isa 9+=%%A Hos .(=+-9A Lu#e .*=9-'A #att %.=.'A Ro2 ll=.9ff.@. E!y t 0as a flourishin! tree to be cut do0n ?ENek *.=%-..@A 0od is a!ainst the lofty cedars of Iebanon and oaks of Bashan. Both the ri!hteous and the 0icked flourish like trees ?8ss .=*A *:=*+-*9@" thou!h the 0icked are cut off. 5ebuchadneNNar 0as co2 ared to a !reat tree ?$an (=.&ff.@ See also Hud! '=:-.+" the arable o, t$e trees. ?Sec E. #. E2bry" &NTT B T.':;U= ;9+-:&.@ Hu2an life is transient like !rass ?% F!s .'=%9A 8ss '&=+-9A .&*=.+-.9A #att 9=*&A Ha2es .=.&..A . 8et .=%(. 4he !reen !rass of Rev '=( refers to those 0ho have the seal of God. ?See 5. Hiltyer" PHerb" 8lant" Grass.P &NTT< T.':9U= %.&-...

26$

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

east5 0ith the co22and to hold the 0inds until the servants of God are sealed ?:=%-*@. GodGs !lory is often 2anifested in the east. %+ In contrast to the an!els that$es!en$ "rom heaven li!htin! the earth 0ith their !lory ?.&=.A .;=.-%A %&=.@" this one as!en$s "rom thesunrising, su!!estin! that the sealin! 0ork that $e does starts in the di2ness of da0n and increases in s lendor like the 2ornin! sun burstin! over the horiNon. 4he character of God" secretly transfor2in! the hearts of His servants" finally is e2blaNoned on their foreheads ?.(=.@" !ivin! the 0orld its last revelation of the !lory of God.%9 &urpose o, sealin!* 4he ur ose of the sealin! is not to rotect GodGs servants fro2 dan!er or death" since 2any die under the ersecutions of antichrist ?.(=.*A .:=9@. It is rather to secure the2 fro2 the destructive force of the seven last la!ues ?.9=.-%A cf. ENek '=9@. 4he ones to be sealed are already Pservants of... GodP ?vs.*@" but their characters need to be fi7ed so that bein! ri!hteous" they 0ill be ri!hteous still ?%%=..@" inca able of co2 ro2ise 0ith the antichrist o0ers ?.*=.+-.:A .(=.@. It is throu!h the sealin! 0ork that the ro2ise to 8hiladel hia is fulfilled= PI 0ill kee you fro2 the hour of trial 0hich is co2in! on the 0hole 0orld" to try those 0ho d0ell u on the earthP ?*=.&@. In this assa!e the 0inds are held backKthe day of the Iord is delayed Kfor a 0ork to be done in the lives of GodGs eo le ?cf. % &et *=;-.&@. +ere is one factor that contributes to the a arent delay of the Advent %: Verses :-= In his vision Hohn heard the nu2ber of the sealed= .(("&&& fro2 all the tribes of Israel" .%"&&& fro2 each tribe. 4he na2e Israel recalls HacobGs ni!ht of 0restlin! 0ith the an!el and the ne0 na2e he 0as !iven" Pfor you have striven 0ith God and 0ith 2en" and have prevaile$6 ?Gen *%=%;@.
A3 Eden is located there E0en %=;@A the !loiy o, 0od returned to the te2 le fro2 the east EEFe# (*=%@A the Sun o" Ri!$teousness rises 0ith healin! in his 0in!s ?#al (=%@A Hesus at +is second advent co2es fro2 t$e cast ?#att %(=%:A Rev .9=.%@. A6 C$arics comments trenchantly" 5On t$e eve of this e i hany of Satan" 0od seals His servants on t$eir foreheads to sho0 that they are +is o0n ossession.... In its dee est sense this sealin! means t$e out0ard 2anifestation o, character. T$e hidden !oodness of GodGs servants is at last %laFoned out(ardly and the divine name that0as 0ritten in secret by GodGs S irit on their $earts is no( en!raved openly on their %ro(s by the very si!net rin! of the livin! 0od* In the rei!n of the antic$rist !oodness and evil' ri!hteousness and sin" co2e into their fullest 2anifestation and anta!onism* C$aracter ulti2ately enters on t$e sta!e of finalityP ?.=%&9@. Ellen Jhite 0rites in a similar vein; 5T$e last rays o, 2erciful li!ht" t$e last 2essa!e of 2ercy to be !iven to the 0orld" is a revelation o, +is character o, love. 4he children of 0od are to 2anifest His !lory in their own li,e and characterP >(hrist+s ),8ect Lessons T#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'(.U" (.+-.9@. %: In ans(er to the 1uestion 5+o( lon!C5 Rev 9=.. su!!ests that a nu2ber is to be 2ade u . Lu#e 6:;A2 su!!ests that 0od 0ants +is house to %e full. #atthe0 %(=.( says the !os el 0ill %e proclaimed to all the (orld before the end co2es.

%9.

Huan.BV Haii2 aiio Hi!4HBuIafion >itJy> is thus a fittin! na2e for the saints in Revelation" fre1uently called !on*uerors ?%=:" etc.A .+=%A %.=:@. 4he Israel of God all con1uer sin fro2 0ithin and the ene2y fro2 0ithout. T$e c$urc$; Spiritual Israel* Israel 2ust refer to s iritual IsraelKthe churchKrather than He0s or He0ish Christians only" since the ones to be sealed are the Pservants of our GodP ?vs. *@" those 0ho are ChristGs ?.=.@" He0ish and non-He0ish alike. Si2ilarly in .(=. the .(("&&& are the follo0ers of the Ia2b" all 0ho have His na2e on their foreheads. 4he 5e0 4esta2ent re eatedly affir2s that IsraelGs herita!e belon!s to the church.%; It follo0s that Israel is coe7tensive 0ith the 0hole churchKthe covenant eo le" faithful to God in a hostile 0orld of a ostate Christians and nonChristian. Sym%olic num%er; .(("&&&. 4he nu2ber .(("&&& ?.% .% .&&&@ is based u on the kin!do2 nu2ber .%. 4he nu2ber su!!ests erfect sy22etry and co2 leteness as 0ell as the vastness of the 2ultitude of the sealed. 40elve is the nu2ber of ancient Israel" based u on the .% tribes. It is also the nu2ber of the church" built u on the .% a ostles. 4he 5e0 Herusale2" structured to re resent both 6ld and 5e0 4esta2ent Israel" has .% !ates 0ith the na2es of the .% atriarchs" and .% foundations containin! the na2es of the .% a ostles ?%.=.%-.(A cf. E h %=%&-%.@. 4he di2ensions of the city are in 2ulti les of .% ? %.=.9-.:@. 4he !reat s1uare city is desi!ned to acco22odate the Phollo0 s1uareP of saints 0ho 0ill enter its !ates by the na2es of their res ective tribes" .%"&&& throu!h each !ate. 4his su!!ests that all 0ho enter the !ates of earl 0ill be assi!ned to a tribe" erha s on the basis of character ?see Gen (' for a reli2inary descri tion of their traits@. 4he blendin! of the tribes and the a ostles in the structure of the city su!!ests the unity of GodGs church" He0s and Gentiles united into one ?E h %=.(".;-%%@. 4he nu2ber .(("&&& should thus be understood as a sy2bol of the unity" erfection" and co2 letion of GodGs churchKco2 lete because the nu2ber has been 2ade u ?9=..@. Tri%al listin!* HohnGs listin! of the tribes is different fro2 any other in Scri ture ?:=+-;@. 4he na2es are not !iven accordin! to a!e or station or 2atrilinea!e ?cf. Gen *+=%%-%9@. Hudah takes the ri2ary osition" undoubtedly because Hesus has been introduced as Pthe Iion of the tribe of HudahP ?Rev +=+@. $an is o2itted" ossibly because of $anGs characterKa ser ent bitin! at the horseGs heels ?Gen ('=.:@" and because $an beca2e
%; See Matt %.=(*A Rom %=%;-%'A 0al *=%'A 9=.+-.9A Ha2es .A.A . 8et %='-.&.

262

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation a center of idolatry in the northern kin!do2 ?. F!s .%=%'-*&@. 4hese sins" ho0ever" 0ere co22on to all of Israel. In nonins ired He0ish 0ritin! $an is associated 0ith sin and Satan.%' To co2 ensate for the o2ission of $an fro2 the list" Hohn inserts #anasseh" thou!h he should be included in Hose h. In effect" then" Hose hGs na2e is sy2boliNin! the tribe ofE hrai2" the descendants of his youn!er son. 4he irre!ularities in the listin! of the tribes confir2 the conclusion that the tribes 0ere not 2eant to be understood literally. T$us' t$e ,irst vision o, Revelation < pictures t$e servants o, 0od about to enter tri%ulation Esym%oliFed %y t$e .(("&&&" vss* (-;@" and t$e second a !reat multitude co2in! out o, it Evss* 7-6:HJ %ut t$ere is no descri tion of the tri%ulation itsel,* T$at is descri%ed later in the book ($ere (ar,are ?.%=.:@" a deat$ decree ?.*=.+-.:@" and 2uch martyrdom are 2entioned ?.:=9@.

3erses '-.%
T$e !reat 2ultitude. In the second se!2ent of cha ter : Hohn sees a !reat 2ultitude standin! before the throne" raisin! God. In contrast to the recisely nu2bered .(("&&&" this !rou cannot be nu2bered. In lace of the .% tribes of Israel are eo le fro2 every nation" tribe" eo le and lan!ua!e. 4he !reat 2ultitude stand before the throne and the Ia2b sin!in!" PSalvation belon!s to our God... and to the Ia2bVP ?vss. '-.&@. 4he 2ultitude contrasts 0ith the kin!s of the earth" !reat 2en" !enerals" and their hosts ?9=.+-.:@. T$e for2er deli!ht to stand before the throne and the Ia2bA the latter cannot bear the si!ht. 4he for2er are clothed in 0hite robesA the latter seek to cover the2selves 0ith rocks and 2ountains. Source of the tri%ulation* As Hohn develo s the seed thou!hts introduced here" it beco2es a arent that the kin!s and !enerals are the ones 0ho 0ar a!ainst the Ia2b and His eo le ?.:=.%-.(A .'=.;-.'@. 4hey have caused the P!reat tribulationPKthe destructive 0inds a!ainst 0hich GodGs servants 0ere sealed. In this battle the Ia2b does the li!htin!KPthe Ia2b 0ill con1uer the2P ?.:=.(A cf. .'=.+@. 4he ri2ary role of the faithful is to be 0ith Hi2 ?.:=.(c@. Hence they cry" PSalvation belon!s to our God... and to the Ia2bVP ?:=.&@. At this cry the heavenly host surroundin! the throne fall do0n and 0orshi God 0ith a sevenfold ascri tion of raise ?:=..-.%@. 4he salvation of
A7 In the Testa#ents of the Twelve 4atriar!hs, &an I,I-=, $an tells his sons that they 0ill co22it evil %ecause t$eir rince is Satan* 4his 2ay %e the ori!in of the atristic le!end first ro ounded by Ircnacus' and t$en by Hi olytus" that antichrist 0ould co2e fro2 the tribe of Dan* ?See C$arics' .=%&;-'.@

263

Hcaicu sa2is and fne 4ribulation sinners" costly as it has been" brin!s back to God a harvest of blessin!" !lory" 0isdo2" thanks!ivin!" honor" o0er" and 2i!ht. 4he out ourin! of love that drained HeavenGs resources sur!es back in a tidal 0ave of raise. 4he throne at the heart of the universe is forever 2ade secure because only love has ulti2ate o0er and 2i!ht.

Verses 62-6: T$e !reat multitude; Mar#s o, identi,ication* 6ne of the %( elders asks Hohn to identify the !reat 2ultitude and tell ho0 they reached the throne roo2 of God. Hohn has no idea. 4he 1uestion is si!nificant" and the elder roceeds to ans0er his o0n 1uestion since this !rou had never a eared in the throne roo2 before. In cha ters ( and + the arran!e2ent of the throne roo2 is described= the throne of God at the center" surrounded by the four livin! creatures" the %( elders" and the hosts of an!els. 4he %( elders had reviously raised God for the thron!s fro2 every tribe and nation 0ho had been redee2ed by the Ia2b ?+=;-'@. 5o0 this vast 2ultitude a ears before the throne" a ne0 ele2ent in GodGs te2 le. 4he elder e7 lains to Hohn" P4hese are they 0ho have co2e out of the !reat tribulationP ?:=.(@" else0here called" Pa ti2e of trouble" such as never has been since there 0as a nation till that ti2eP ?$an .%=.@. 4hey endure the 0rath of all the o0ers of hellA they con1uer in the final conflict bet0een the ar2ies of heaven and the ar2ies of earth ?.'=.(".'-%&@" tu stand in t$e temple %e,ore the t$rone o, 0od t$ey must (ear priestly ($ite ro%es- T$ey are' indeed' priests to 0od ?.=9A 3;6MJ AM;6H* T$e 0hite ro%e' sym%oliFin! ri!$teous character"*& is essential ,or t$e %eliever' ($et$er it is ordinary dress >himatia leu.a, *=.;@" priestly ro%es >stolas %eukas, <;7' 62-6:' sto%e bein! the ,avored (ord in the Se tua!int TIDDU for the riestly robe@"*. or the 0eddin! !ar2ent of the Ia2bGs 0ife >bus-sinon lampron .atharon, .'=;@. 4he robe is obtained durin! this life ?*=.;@. In the Lud!2ent it ensures the retention of oneGs na2e in the book of life ?*=+@. It is a0arded as vindication for those 0ho 0ere unLustly conde2ned by earthly courts ?9='-..@. 4he robe ke t unsoiled in this life 0ill be retained in the a!e to co2e. P4hey shall 0alk 0ith 2e in 0hite" for they are 0orthyP ?*=(@. All 2ust 0ash their robes in order to enter the !ates of the city ?%%=.(@. 8as$ed %y t$e %lood* 4he !reat 2ultitude have P0ashed their robes
*& See Isa 9.=.&A $an ..=*+A .%=.&A <ech *=*-(A #att %%=..-.%A Rev .'=;. *. Q. Jei!elt" PClothe" 5aked" $ress" Gar2ent" Cloth"P &NTTF ?.':+@A *.9..:.

264

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

and 2ade the2 white in the bloo$ of the Ia2bP ?:=.(@. Hohn deli!hts in such startlin! contrasts.*% Gar2ents 0ashed in blood are 2entioned in the 6ld 4esta2ent= the Iord co2es in cri2soned !ar2entsA He treads the 0ine ress alone and stains His rai2ent 0ith blood ?Isa 9*=.-*@. 4he idea of 0ashin! a0ay scarlet sins so that they are 0hiter than sno0 is found in Isaiah .=.; and 8sal2 +.=:. But to use blood for bleachin! is uni1ue to Hohn. 8erha s a contrast can be seen here= Hesus stained His !ar2ents in our bloodKHe beca2e sin for usKthat our !ar2ents 2i!ht beco2e 0hite in His bloodK0e beco2e the ri!hteousness of God in Hi2 ?% Cor +=%.@.**

Verse 63
5T$ere,ore they are %e,ore t$e t$rone o, 0od' and serve $im day and ni!$t in his te2 le.P 4heir ($ite robes entitle t$em to 2inister day and ni!$t in 0od9s te2 le.*( T$us t$e ro2ise to &$iladelp$ia is ,ul,illed; 5+e ($o conIuers' I (ill 2ake a pillar in the te2 le o, my 0odJ never shall $e !o out of itP ?*=.%@. 5And he ($o sits on t$e t$rone (ill s read $is tent over t$em5 Evs* 63' 5I3@.*+ T$is is a rene(al of the covenant promise t$at 0od 0ould tent amon! +is people ELev %9=..A aec$ A;6M-66J cf. E od %+=;@. 5My d(ellin! place NtentO shall %e 0ith t$emJ and I 0ill %e t$eir 0od' and they shall %e my people5 EEFe# *:=%:@. "ut in Revelation :=.+ the ,i!ure is a little di,,erent; +e 0ill tent over t$em*
*% Some of HohnGs otherstanlin! i2a!es are the follo0in!= 4he Son of 2an 0ill shepher$ >poimanei / tenderly care for" :=.:@ +is ene2ies 0ith a ro$ o" iron as clay ots are dashed to ieces ?.'=.+@K stron! irony intended. 6ther contradictions a ear 0ith HesusG desi!nation as Jamb, 4he Jion of the tribe ofHudah is a slainIo2fc ?+=+-9@. 4he !reat and the s2all of earth cry out to be hidden fro2 the wrath oftheIo2X?9=.9@. Si2ilarly" the beast -0orshi ers 0ill be tormente$ 0ith fire and bri2stone in the resence of the Jamb ?.(=.&@. 4he Jamb 0ill shepher$ +is eo le ?:=.:@. A la2blike beast s eaks like a dra!on ?.*=..@. 4he t0o 2aLor anta!onists of the book" the Ia2b and the beast" are both di2inutive for2s in the Greek >amion fro2 aren and therion fro2 ther, hence Plittle la2bP and Plittle beastP@. 4hou!h the ter2s 2ay have lost their di2inutive sense 0hen Hohn used the2" there is ossibly a trace of irony in the ter2s= that is" Plittle la2bP indicates the o0er of !entleness and Plittle beastP the 0eakness of force. ** 4he blood of the Ia2b is a o0erful a!ent" able not only to 0ash oneGs robes and 2ake the2 ($ile' but to free us fro2 our sins ?.=+@" ay the rice of rede2 tion ?+A'@" and overco2e the accusations o, Satan ?.%=..@. *( 5ote that 0hen Aaron and his sons 0ere consecrated for the riesthood their !ar2ents 0ere s rinkled 0ith blood ELev ;=*&@. Cleansin! !ar2ents 0ith blood 0as thus art of the riestly ritual. *+ Fro2 the vertU s.enoo ?to tent" itch a tent@. 4he 0ree# verb" coincidentally" has the sa2e consonants as the Hebre0 e1uivalent" skn" fro2 0hich the 0ord She.inah ?the resence of God@ is derived. 4he idea is that 0od itches His tent" or d0ells" 0ith +is eo le. 4he 5e0 4esta2ent use of the verb is li2ited to the Hohannine 0ritin!s= 4he Jord tents in hu2an flesh ?Hohn .=.(@A 0od s reads His tent over +is eo le ?Rev :=.+@A finally GodGs tent is 0ith hu2anity and +e d0ells 0ith the2 ?%.=*@.

265

P0inB uuu iuc iiluuiaiion 4he verb to tent in Hebre0 is related to the 0ord She"anah, the !lory or resence of God 0hich rests u on His eo le as the si!n of His resence" as the illar of cloud and fire overshado0ed the2 in their desert 0anderin!s ?E7od .*=%.@. Isaiah describes the illar of cloud and fire as a cano y or avilion s read over GodGs eo le to rotect the2 fro2 the stor2 ?cha . (.-+-9@. *9 $avid e7 ressed a si2ilar vie0 in 8sal2 %:=(-+ in the day of trouble 0hile hosts 0ere enca2 ed a!ainst hi2 and evildoers assailed hi2" God 0ould hide hi2 in His shelter" under the cover of His tent. 4here in GodGs te2 le he 0ould behold the beauty of the Iord ?as do the !reat 2ultitude before the throne@. 4he 6ld 4esta2ent sources of Revelation :=.+ s eak of bein! 0ith God $uring tribulation. 4he verse su!!ests then in retros ect that God 0ill s read His !lory over His eo le as a tent to rotect the2 fro2 the stor2" the !reat tribulation. Verses 66-6< 4hese verses are derived fro2 Isaiah ('=.&" describin! IsraelGs return fro2 Babylonian e7ile=*:
4hey shall not hun!er or thirst" neither scorchin! 0ind nor sun shall s2ite the2" for he 0ho has ity on the2 0ill lead the2" and by s rin!s of 0ater 0ill !uide the2.

4he hun!er" thirst" and heat su!!est the a!ony of IsraelGs revious death 2arch into Babylonian e7ile. 4he !reat 2ultitude e7 erience a si2ilar death 2arch throu!h tribulation" thirstin! for God in the horror of His a arent absence. 4hen the Ia2b a ears to she herd the2 to fountains of livin! 0ater" a favorite Hohannine the2e.*; $rinkin! livin! 0ater 2eans satisfyin! oneGs s iritual thirst by co2in! to Christ for the infillin! of the S irit. Hesus said" PHe 0ho co2es to 2e shall not hun!er" and he 0ho believes in 2e shall never thirstP ?Hohn 9=*+@.
26 0* R* "easlcy-Murray' The ook o"Revelation ?Grand Rapids' .':(@" .(;. *: Many of the Old Testament literaiy sources for Rev : are dra0n ,rom references to the E!y tian and "a%ylonian ca tivities. T$e horror of IsraelGs e ile and t$e Loy of deliverance" both fro2 E!ypt and Babylon" beco2e ty es o, t$e final tribulation and deliverance o, 0od9s eo le. T$e E!yptX"a%ylon e periences 0ere such a art of the authorGs 2ind-set that they rovide a 2aLor source of t$e i2a!ery of the 0hole %oo#* For instance" the la!ues" the son! o, #oses ?.+=%@" and nourish2ent in the 0ilderness ?.%=9@" are allusions to the e7odus fro2 E!y t" 0hile the dryin! up of t$e Eu hrates ?.9=.%@ and the call to co2e out o, "a%ylon ?.;=(@ allude to the e odus ,rom "a%ylon* *; Hohn (=.(A 9=*+A :=*:. *' Hohn (=.*-.(A :=*:-*'A Rev %%=.:.

266

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation In Revelation the s rin!s of livin! 0ater turn out to be the river of 0ater oflife?%%=lH.@. Hohn dra0s u on rich sources in icturin! Christ as she herd. (& P4he Iord is 2y she herd" I shall not 0ant.... He leads 2e beside still 0atersGB ?8s %*=."%@A PHe0ill feed his flock like a she herd" he 0ill !ather the la2bs in his ar2s" he 0ill carry the2 in his boso2" and !ently lead those that are 0ith youn!P ?Isa (&=..@. In the Fourth Gos el Hesus calls Hi2self the !ood she herd 0hose shee follo0 +im because they kno0 His voice ?Hohn .&=(ff.@. 4he te7t holds further sur rises. P4he Ia2b in the mi$st o" the throne 0ill be their she herd" and ... 0ill !uide the2 to s rin!s of livin! 0ater.P 4he Ia2bGs osition on the throne s eaks of !lory and 2aLestyA His 0ork in !uidin! the shee s eaks of !entleness" servanthood" and self-sacrifice. Hesus reveals the 2aLesty of hu2ble service. "ut 0hile the Son of God serves His eo le" the Father Hi2self erfor2s a 2ovin! service. 4hou!h He has al0ays see2ed re2ote" seated u on the throne" here +e stoo s to 0i e the tears fro2 the eyes of His eo le ?:=.:A cf. %.=(@. 4his state2ent is dra0n fro2 the a ocaly tic section of Isaiah ?cha s. %(-%9@" describin! the devastation of the earth under 0od9s 0rath" and His rotectin! love for His eo le= PHe 0ill s0allo0 u death forever" and the Iord God 0ill 0i e a0ay tears fro2 all facesP ?%+=;@.

4he .(("&&& and the Great #ultutude


T$ere $as %een muc$ s eculation over the identity of the .(("&&& and t$e !reat multitude in Revelation <* T$e ,ollo(in! is a revie( of the maGor vie(s*

Vie( I.Literal Be(s Contrasted 8it$ 0entiles


4he literal-Israel vie0 is held lar!ely by dis ensationa/sts. $is ensationalists believe that after the church is ra tured" .(("&&& He0s 0ill be converted to Christianity and 0ill evan!eliNe the 0orld" brin!in! the !reat 2ultitude to Christ. 4he .(("&&& 0ill be rotected fro2 the tribulation by the seal" but the !reat 2ultitude 0ill be 2artyred" their souls a earin! before the throne of God after they have Pco2e out of !reat tribulation.P(.
(& T$e 1i!ure of a Ia2b s$ep$erdin! his dock is not as incon!ruous as it see2s" since so2eti2es shee and cattle are trained to lead the flock ?Beasley-#urray" .('@. (. H. $0i!ht 8entecost" Things to (ome ?Grand Ra ids" .'+;@" %.(" %':-';"*&&A Hohn F. Jalvoord" The Revelation o" #esus (hrist ?Chica!o" .'99@" .(*-.9. 267

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation 4here are serious difficulties 0ith this vie0. Such a distinction bet0een He0ish and Gentile Christians is not dra0n else0here in Revelation. All the Pservants of... GodP are to be sealed ?vs. *@" 0hether He0ish or Gentile. 4he .(("&&& are identified as those 0ho follo0 the Ia2b ?.(=."(@" so all the faithful 2ust be included. All con1uerors have the seal on their foreheads ?*=.%A %%=(@. 4he seal 2ust be coe7tensive 0ith the eril" and 2ust therefore e2brace the entire Christian co22unity.(% Further2ore" 0hen Hohn 0rote" 2ost of the tribes no lon!er retained their identity. 4he idea that the souls of the Gentile 2artyrs ?thou!ht to be the !reat 2ultitude@ !o to heaven at death is not su orted by Revelation. 4he 2artyrs do not co2e to life until the thousand years be!in ?%&=(@. /ntil then they Prest fro2 their laborsP ?.(=.*@.

Vie( A.Last 0eneration Saints Contrasted 8it$ Redeemed o, All A!es


So2e hold the vie0 that the .(("&&& are the faithful 0ho are sealed throu!h the final crisis" 0hereas the !reat 2ultitude are the saved of all a!es.t * Althou!h this is a reasonable understandin! of the te7t" careful e7a2ination reveals so2e roble2s. /riah S2ith reasoned that the elderGs 1uestion" PJho are these... SP in verse .* refers to the .(("&&& rather than the !reat 2ultitude. He asserts that Hohn already kne0 the identity of the !reat 2ultitudeKthe faithful out of every nation" raised fro2 the dead at the second co2in! of Christ. So the elderGs descri tion of saints in 0hite robes 0ho ca2e out of !reat tribulation 2ust a ly to the .((.&&&.(( S2ith divides the cha ter into three arts= the .(("&&&" verses .-;A the !reat 2ultitude" verses '-.%A and the .(("&&&" verses .*-.:. 4hus" the ones 0ho co2e out of !reat tribulation ?vs. .(@ are the .(("&&& 0ho are sealed a!ainst the 0inds. 4he !reat 2ultitude" as described in verses '-.%" can then a ly to the faithful of all a!es. #ost scholars" ho0ever" see only t0o se!2ents in the cha ter= the .(("&&& ?vss. .-;@ and the !reat 2ultitude ?vss. '-.:@. 4his is because the elderBs 1uestion and descri tion clearly a ly to the !reat 2ultitudeKthey
(% C$aries' .=%&&. (* For e7a2 le" Robert H. #ounce" The Boo. o" Revelation ?Grand Ra ids" .'::@" .:.A /riah S2ith" &aniel an$ the Revelation, (:&-:.. (( S2ith" &aniel an$ the Revelation, (:.-:%. In The 'reat (ontroversy ?#ountain Vie(' CA' .'+&@" Ellen 8$ite uses vss* .(-.: to describe the .(("&&& ?9(;-('@. It is not clear 0hether she thinks the elder is actually describin! the .(("&&&" or 0hether she assumes that the .(("&&& are identical 0ith the !reat 2ultitude ?described in vie0 * belo0@.

26"

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation are the ones 0ith 0hite robes 0ho stand before the throne of God ?cf. vss. .(-.+ 0ith vs. '@. 4his understandin! introduces the roble2 that the !reat 2ultitude are no lon!er the faithful of all a!es" but are li2ited to the ones 0ho e7 erience the !reat tribulation. j? acco22odate this roble2" so2e redefine Pthe !reat tribulationP as ersecution of the Christian church throu!h the a!es" (+ or s ecifically the ersecution of the 2artyrs in 9='-.. ?cf. #att %(=%.-%%@. 4he 0hite-robed 2ultitude then co2 letes the nu2ber of the 0hite-robed 2artyrs ?:=.(A 9=..@. 4his acco22odation 0eakens the 2eanin! of the P!reat tribulationP ?s ecific in the Greek@" an allusion to $anielGs Pti2e of trouble" such as never has been since there 0as a nation till that ti2eP ?$an .%=.@. Vie( 2 . T$e Same 0roup )nder Di,,erent Circumstances Numerous sc$olars $ave concluded t$at t$e 6::'MMM and the !reat multitude are t$e same':6 the ,ormer %ein! t$e end-time c$urc$ 2ilitant en!a!ed in stru!!le on eart$' ($ile the !reat 2ultitude are t$e same !rou triump$ant a,ter t$ey sa,ely reach $eaven* T$ey reason t$at in the first se!ment Evss* .-;@ Bo$n hears t$e num%er o, the sealed" %ut in the second Evss* 7-6<H $e sees ($o t$ey actually are= a !reat multitude 0ho2 no one can num%er* T$e nu2ber .(("&&& is sym%olic of t$e vastness of t$e innumera%le multitude* T$e nation 1i%srae%with its 6A tri%es si!nifies t$e host of s iritual Israel ,rom all nations and tri%es* 4he sealin! (or# is analo!ous to 0ashin! the ro%es and ma#in! the2 ($ite in t$e %lood o, t$e Lam%* T$e 0inds let loose upon t$e (orld are a ,i!ure of t$e !reat tribulation. 4hus the second se!2ent o, t$e vision is not a contrast to t$e ,irst' %ut an e7 lanation o, it. In ot$er (ords' the ,irst scene ?vss. .-;@ describes the c$urc$ on eart$ about to e perience tri%ulationJ the second scene ?vss. '.:@ descri%es it in $eaven a,ter tri%ulation is ast. T$is vie( is lo!ical and faithful to the te t* It solves the roble2s that come (it$ a ri!idly literal vie( of the .(("&&&= the arbitrariness of the num%er 6::'MMM divided into .% eIual parts' t$e s2allness o, t$e num%er in vie( o, the siFe o, t$e (orld c$urc$' the identity o, the lost tribes of Israel"
(+ Her2an Hoekse2a" Behol$ He (ometh ?Grand Ra ids" .'9'@" %9+-99. The S& Bible (ommentary ?Jashin!ton" $C" .'+:@ refers to this vie0 ? . :;+@. (9 So2e of the 2any 0hose co22entaries hold thisvie0are Beasley-#urray" Caird" Charles" Fiddle" Iadd" Ienski" Su22ers" and S0ete. The S& Bible (ommentary resents a convincin! case for this vie0 0ithout takin! a osition ?:=:;(@.

26.

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation and the nature of the !rou as celibate 2ales ?.(=(@. 8ositively" it 2akes a o0erful state2ent that Israel e1uals the church. Vie( : . T$e C$urc$ in Tri%ulation; Spiritually "e,ore t$e T$rone:< 4here is one roble2 the revious vie0 does not solve. If the second scene of cha ter : sho0s the church in heaven after ChristGs co2in!" then the faithful of all a!es should be resent around the throne" not Lust the final !eneration. But it see2s evident that the !reat 2ultitude are tribulation saints only. Jhy then are the others i!noredS Further2ore" they serve God Pday and ni!ht 0ithin his te2 leP ?vs. .+@ thou!h in eternity there are no ni!ht and te2 le ?%.=%%"%+@. (; Also the elder does not say ?in the Greek te7t@ Pthey... have !ome,P but Pthey ...are !oming out of the !reat tribulation.P(' 4ribulation is still in ro!ress as this scene takes lace. Is there a dyna2ic here that has been 2issedS 4here a ears to be a recurrin! attern in the Hohannine 0ritin!s that e7 oses 2ore of HohnGs startlin! arado7es. 4he Fourth Gos el is noted for its conce t of eternal life no0" heaven in this life. +& Jhat is literal and real in the future enters the resent as a s iritual e7 erience. 4he sa2e 2ode of thou!ht a ears in Revelation. T$e saints 0ill rei!n ,orever and ever ?%%=+@" %ut even in e ile Bo$n s$ares t$e #in!dom ?.='@. T$e river ,lo(s t$rou!$ t$e $oly city ?%%=.-%@" %ut t$e t$irsty may drin# o, it no( ?vs. .:@. 0od (ill d(ell (it$ +is people face to ,ace ?%.=*A %%=(@" %ut no( C$rist enters t$e door to dine (it$ t$em ?*=%&@. C$rist is co2in! soon 0ith +is recompense ?%%=.%@" %ut +e comes no( to +is c$urc$ ?%=+"66'%+@. T$e holy city (ill come do(n ,rom $eaven to the ne( eart$ ?%.=%@" %ut it comes do(n even no( to t$e one ($o conIuers ?*=.%@.+.
(: 4he follo0in! vie0 re resents the ersonal understandin! of the author" not the consensus of the $aniel and Revelation Co22ittee" and is rinted here for 0ider study 0ithout atte2 t to rovide counterar!u2ents.KEd. (; So2e 2i!ht ar!ue that the te2 le does not disa ear until the end of the thousand years. In any case it see2s lhat 0hen God and His eo le enLoy face-to-face co22union" the te2 le i2a!ery is no lon!er used. (' 4he 0ree# uses the resent artici le" hoi er!homenoi, rather t$an the aorist" hoi eithontes. For a si2ilar construction see also .+=% K the ones 0ho stand on the sea o, !lass are !on*uering >tous ni.Sntos5 the beast and his i2a!e" not have !on*uere$. 4hey arc still en!a!ed in the stru!!le 0ith the beast 0hile standin! on the sea of !lass. +& T$e Fourth Gos el re eatedly s eaks of the future blessin!s occurrin! no0= ac1uittal in the Lud!2ent ?+=%(@" resurrection fro2 death ?+=%+@" eternal life ?9=(:@" the co2in! of Christ ?.(=.K futureA .;" %*reseni@. +. A!ain" a resent artici le" heluttabainousa.

27$

Sealed Saints and t$e 4ribulation

In har2ony 0ith this thinkin!" Hohn consistently refers to the ene2ies of God as those P0ho d0ell on earthP ?.*=;@ 0hile the o osin! co22unity of saints are called Pthose 0ho tent in heavenP >FB,=5% Iivin! in heaven is thus a resent e7 erience. He also has fre1uent visions of the saints in heaven Pbefore the throne"P P0ith the Ia2b on #ount <ion"P Pon the sea of !lassP 0here the conte7t of each assa!e indicates that the final conflict is still in ro!ress. +* He casually 2entions saints 0orshi in! in the te2 le durin! the (% 2onths of o ression ?..=.A cf. :=.+@. #ost inter reters see these as P role ticP ?antici atory@ visions of heavenly bliss. Certainly they are. 4here 0ill be a day 0hen the faithful 0ill stand before the throne raisin! God. But the Hohannine 0ritin!s are noted for the $ouble enten$re ?double 2eanin!@. For instance" Hesus said" P4he hour is co2in!" an$ now is, 0hen the dead 0ill hear the voice of the Son of God" and those 0ho hear 0ill liveP ?Hohn +=%+@. 4he future 2eanin! is clearKat ChristGs co2in! the dead 0ill be raised. But the resent 2eanin! is also thereK s iritually dead eo le are no0 brou!ht to life by hearin! the voice of Hesus. If a$ouble enten$re in Revelation : is understood" the assa!e beco2es oi!nant 0ith 2eanin!. Since the !reat 2ultitude are still e2er!in! fro2 tribulation ?vs. .(@" they have not yet reached heavenA they are there in s irit. 4heir e7cla2ation"PSalvation belon!s to GodVP ?vs. .&@ beco2es a cry for hel . God res onds by s readin! His tabernacle over the2 ?vs. .+@. Jhile under GodBs tabernacle they are rotected fro2 the fierce 0inds of destruction ?vs. .@ and the searin! heat of the fourth la!ue ?vs. .9A cf. .9=;@. Jhile the earth d0ellers are battered by te2 est and consu2ed by drou!ht" the Ia2b leads His follo0ers to s rin!s of livin! 0ater" and 0i es the tears fro2 their eyes ?vs. .:@. For the heaven d0ellers" tribulation is robbed of its terrors. 4hey stand Pbefore the throne of God"P and Pserve hi2P by their
3A 5T$ose ($o d(ell on eart$5 are always t$e ene2ies of 0od9s eo le. T$ey shed the blood of martyrs ?9=.&@" arc tar!ets of the tru2 et (oes E=;62H' reLoice at the deat$ o, the t0o 0itnesses ?..=.&@" 0orshi the %east and marvel at it E62;='6AJ .:=;@" are deceived by t$e false ro het ?.*=.(@" and beco2e drun# 0ith t$e 0ine of t$e $arlot ?.:=%@. T$e o osin! co22unity arc called Pthose 0ho Ntent' tabernacleU in $eaven5 ?.%=.%A .*=9@. Jhen describin! t$e ,inal battle" Bo$n descri%es t0o ar2ies con,rontin! each other" the ar2ies o, $eaven and the armies of earth E67;6:'67H* 4he armies of heaven arc 2ade u of the Pcalled and chosen and faithfulP ?.:=.(@" t$at is' saints. T$e ar2ies of eart$ are the ene2ies of 0od* 32 &eople 0orshi in the temple durin! t$e (% mont$s o, o ression ?..=.-*@A the .(("&&& stand on Mount <ion 0hile the mar# o, t$e beast is %ein! issued and 0arned a!ainst ?.(=.-+@A beast-con1uerors sin! on t$e sea o, !lass before t$e la!ues are oured out ?.+=%-(@A the chosen are 0ith the Ia2b 0hen t$e ten kin!s ma#e (ar (it$ +im ?.:=.*-.(@.

%:.

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

constant raise Pday and ni!htP durin! tribulation ?vs. .+@. 4he assa!e thus follo0s its 6ld 4esta2ent source= in the day of trouble 0hen 0ars ra!e a!ainst hi2" the believer d0ells in the house of the Iord" beholdin! the beauty of the Iord. 51ar he 0ill hide 2e in his shelter in the day of troubleA he 0ill conceal 2e under the cover of his tentP ?8s %:=*-+" cf. Isa (=+-9@. As co22only understood" the first scene of Revelation : describes the re aration for tribulation" and the second scene" the deliverance fro2 tribulation" 0ith no 2ention about the tribulation itself. But if a double 2eanin! is intended" the cha ter tells ho0 Christians co e 0ith tribulation 0hen in the heat of itKho0 they are ke t fro2 the hour of trial that is co2in! on the 0hole 0orld ?*=.&@. God has set before the2 the o en door into the throne roo2 ?*=;@. 4hrou!h every crisis" as riests they ress into the #ost Holy 8lace to the very resence of God and the Ia2b ?:='@. 4heir riestly 0hite robes 0ashed in the blood of the Ia2b entitle the2 to full acce tance 0ith God ?:=.(@. Jith rayer and raise they serve Hi2 day and ni!ht in His te2 le ?vs. .+@. 4hey overco2e fear and des air throu!h shoutin! GodGs raises ?vss. .&-.%@. Jhen the 0orld is arched 0ith drou!ht" they follo0 the Ia2b to fountains of livin! 0ater ?vs. .:b@. Jhen they are broken by sorro0" the hand of God 0i es a0ay their tears ?vs. .:c@. 4hey transcend their troubles instead of bein! crushed by the2 because they vie0 the over0hel2in! evils of earth fro2 the ers ective of the throne and the soverei!nty of God.

C$aracteristics o, t$e Sealed


Revelation .(=.-+ !ives afurther descri tion of the .(("&&& sealed saints=

Divine Names on 1ore$eads 4hey have the na2e of the Ia2b and the Father on their foreheads ?vs. .@. Earlier 0e observed that bein! sealed 0ith the na2e of God u on the forehead 2eant to reflect the character of GodA to belon! to Hi2 as His slaveA to be rotected fro2 the 0rath of GodA to be !enuine" not subLect to chan!eA to be obedient to the co22and2entsA and to observe the Sabbath as the out0ard si!n of alle!iance to God as Creator and Redee2er. Sin! a 5e0 Son! 4hey sin! a ne0 son! before the throne ?vs. *@. A ne0 son! in Scri ture indicates Lubilation for GodGs deliverance and victory. P& sin! to the Iord a ne0 son!" for he has done 2arvelous thin!sV His ri!ht hand and his
272

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation holy ar2 have !otten hi2 victoryGB ?8s ';=. @. +( A ne0 son! 0as sun! by the four livin! creatures and %( elders on the occasion of the Ia2bGs victory ?Rev +=;-.&A cf. vs. +@. 4he son! of the .(("&&& is described in .+=%-* as the son! of #oses and the Ia2b" and celebrates their victory over the beast and its i2a!e. Jhile facin! the death decree of antichrist" they raise God for victory. 4heir sin!in! is so o0erful it is like the roar of 2any 0aters and loud thunder ?.(=%@. P5o one could learn that son! e7ce t the hundred and forty-four thousandP ?vs. *@ because no one has e7 erienced as !reat a trial and as !reat a victory as they.

Redeemed 1rom Eart$


4hey are redee2ed fro2 the earth ?vs. *@. 4heir rede2 tion 0as secured by the blood of the Ia2b ?+='@. Spiritual Vir!ins 4hey have not defiled the2selves 0ith 0o2enA they are chaste ?vs. (@. 4he P0o2enP are later identified as the harlot Babylon and her dau!hters"++ and re resent a ostate reli!ion. 4o be chaste 2eans to kee oneself ure fro2 a ostasy" to refuse to 0orshi the beast or receive its 2ark" even under ressure of death. 1ollo(ers o, t$e Lam% 4hey Pfollo0 the Ia2b 0herever he !oesP ?vs. (@. Jhere He leads is described in :=.:. P4he Ia2b in the 2idst of the throne 0ill be their she herd" and he 0ill !uide the2 to s rin!s of livin! 0ater.P 4he carin! leadershi of Hesus contrasts 0ith the harsh rule of the beast. Since the above te7ts indicate a She herd-shee relationshi " they brin! to 2ind HesusG descri tion of the relationshi bet0een Hi2 and His flock=
+e 0ho enters by the door is the she herd of the shee .... 4he shee hear his voice" and he calls his o0n shee by na2e and leads the2 out.... He !oes before the2" and the shee follo0 hi2" for they kno0 his voice. A stran!er they 0ill not follo0" but they 0ill flee fro2 hi2" for they do not kno0 the voice of stran!ers. ?Hohn .&=%-+@

3: See also &ss ';=%-*A **=*A (&=%-*A '9=.-(A .('=.-(A Isa (%=.&. ++ See .(=;A .:=(-+A cf. %=%&-%*" HeNebel and her children. 273

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

4he Pstran!erP of the last days is the beast- o0er. 4he shee do not listen to hi2" but follo0 only their She herd. 4here is co2fort here des ite the threat of death. He shee are conscious of bein! cared for even thou!h they 2ay be sufferin! e7tre2e hardshi . 1irst 1ruits P4hese have been redee2ed fro2 2ankind as first fruits for God and the Ia2bP ?vs. (@. In ancient ti2es before a cro 0as harvested the first fruits 0ere dedicated to the Iord as a reco!nition that the 0hole belon!ed to Hi2 ?Iev %*='-.(@. 4he first fruits 0ere brou!ht to the te2 le for sacred use ?E7od %*=.'A 5eh .&=*+-*:@. Israel 0as called Pholy to the Iord"" the first fruits of his harvestP ?Her %=*@. 4hou!h all the nations belon!ed to God" Israel 0as His s ecial treasure" riests to the 0orld ?E7od .'=+-9@. Iike0ise the end-ti2e saints of Revelation are GodGs s ecial eo le" consecrated to Hi2 for service in the te2 le ?Rev :=.+@. 4here are t0o ossibilities for inter retin! the Pfirst fruitsP e7 ression in this assa!e. 6ne is that as GodBs Israel" the .(("&&& contrast 0ith the 0orld in !eneral ?the first fruits have been redee2ed fro2 man.in$, .(=(@.+9 4he other is that the .(("&&&" as the final !eneration of saints translated at ChristGs co2in!" are contrasted 0ith the faithful of revious !enerations 0ho are resurrected.+: 4his vie0 can also be su orted by the te7t" since the harvest of the ri!hteous is described in verses .(-.9. +; Trut$,ul and Loyal PIn their 2outh no lie 0as foundP ?vs. +@. 4his descri tion is used a nu2ber of ti2es in Scri ture" either 0ith the 0ord $olos ?deceit" cunnin!" treachery@ orpseu$os ?lie" falsehood@. 4he sal2ist describes the ri!hteous 2an as bein! 0ithout !uile. He 0ho d0ells on GodGs holy hill ?as the .(("&&& on #ount <ion@ Ps eaks truth fro2 his heartP and Pdoes not slander0ith his ton!ueP ?8s .+=.-*A cf. *%=.-%@. Hesus reco!niNed 5athanael as one such Israelite Pin 0ho2 is no !uileP ?Hohn .=(:@. Absence of !uile is also a #essianic trait ?. 8et %=%%-%*" dra0n fro2
+9 Ienski ar!ues that the .(("&&& 0ere Pbou!ht a0ay fro2 2en"P the earth d0ellers 0ho 0ant no other ho2e. +e denies that there is any s ecial holiness or s ecial salvation of this !rou over any other believers ? . (%+@. +: 4his a ears to be Ellen JhiteGs vie0= P4hese" havin! been translated fro2 the earth" fro2 a2on! t$e livin!" are counted as Gthe first fruits unto 0od and to the Ia2bG P >The 'reat (ontroversy, 9('@. +; #ost scholars a!ree thai the harvest of vss. .(-.9 2eans the ri!hteous" 0hereas the harvest of !ra es in vss. .:-%& a lies to the 0icked.

274

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation Isa +*='@. It is si!nificant that lie in the A ocaly se 2ay 2ean 2ore than co22on untruthfulness" Lust asparthenoi ?vir!ins@ 2eans 2ore than co22on chastity. 6ne of the characteristics of the antichrist o0ers is deceit-fulness ?.*=.(@. 4he saints are loyal to the God 0ho is true ?.'=..@.

"lameless
P4hey are s otlessP ?.(=+@. S otless >amomos5 literally 2eans 0ithout ble2ish or defect. It co2es fro2 the Se tua!int ?IDD@ translation of the Hebre0 adLective tamim, 2eanin! unble2ished" 0hole" or healthy 0hen a lied to sacrificial ani2als. Iater the 0ord shifted in 2eanin! fro2 cul-tic erfection to 2oral and ethical bla2elessness.+' 4o be bla2eless 2eant to 0alk 0ith God ?as 5oah and Abraha2" Gen 9='A .:=.@" and thus to e7 erience inti2ate fello0shi 0ith Hi2. 4he 8sal2s describe the bla2eless 2an as obeyin! GodGs la0s" 0alkin! in His 0ays" seekin! Hi2 0ith the 0hole heart" and deli!htin! in His 0ill ?..'=.-*".(A .;=%%-%*@. 4he use of amomos in the 5e0 4esta2ent follo0s a si2ilar attern. Hesus 0as the sacrificial la2b" 0ithout ble2ish and 0ithout s ot ?. 8et .=.;-.'A Heb '=.(@. 4he saints are to be the sa2e ?% 8et *=.(@. PS ots and ble2ishesP are revelin!" carousin!" adultery" and !reed ?%=.*-.(@. An obvious 2eanin! ?@ amomos, then" is freedo2 fro2 the sins of flesh and assion that characteriNe the 0orldlin!. Christ 0ishes to cleanse the church so that he 2i!ht resent her to Hi2self Pin s lendor" 0ithout s ot or 0rinkle... that she 2i!ht be holy and 0ithout ble2ishP ?E h +=%+%:@. 4he .(("&&&" 0ith the seal of God on their foreheads" thus reflect to the 0orld their har2ony of soul 0ith God and His la0.

Some T$eolo!ical Concerns


Several theolo!ical concerns sur,ace fro2 t$is study' not all o, ($ic$ can %e definitively settled.

One &eople
$oes the data of Revelation su ort the vie0 that God has t0o se arate eo les on earth" ethnic Israel and the churchS 4he ans0er is 5o. 6ur study favors the vie0 that the .(("&&& ?sealed out the tribes of Israel@ and the !reat 2ultitude ?fro2 all nations@ of cha ter : are identical and sy2bol+' S0cte" .;.A cf. F. Hauck" P#o2os"P 4IJ4G( ?Grand Ra ids" .'9:@" ;%'A Richard C. 4rench" Synonyms o" the New Testament ?Grand Ra ids" .'(;@" *:'.

275

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation

iNe the last hase of the church. Else0here in the book Hohn indicates that he has only one eo le in 2ind" not t0o. 4he 0o2an clothed 0ith the sun ?Rev .%@ has t0o roles. As 2other of the #essiah" she is IsraelA as ersecuted eo le" she is the church. Met there is one 0o2an" not t0o. 4he 5e0 Herusale2 co2bines the sy2bols of the .% tribes ?Israel@ and the .% a ostles ?the church@ into one city ?%.='-.(@. 4he bride" the 0ife of the Ia2b" is one. All this har2oniNes 0ith 8aulGs teachin! that God has broken do0n the barrier bet0een He0 and Gentile and 2ade the2 Pone ne0 2an in lace of the t0oP ?E h %=.(-.9@. 4he church is co2 osed of converted He0s and Gentiles trustin! alike in the 2erits of the #essiah ?Gal *=%9-%'@ and a ro riately desi!nated Pthe Israel of GodP ?Gal 9=.+-.9@. 5o C$an!e in &lan of Salvation Jherein lies the uni1ueness of the .(("&&&Kthe final !eneration of saintsS 4hey are not the first ones to be sealedA saints 0ere sealed in 8aulGs day. I4ley are not the first to be 0ithout !uile and bla2eless. 4hey are not the first to be ersecuted" or to follo0 the Ia2b" or to be redee2ed fro2 the earth" or to Psin! a ne0 son! unto the Iord.P HohnGs ei!htfold descri tion of the .(("&&& found in Revelation .(=.-+ indicates that they share a co22on herita!e 0ith the saints of all a!es. Jhat" then" is uni1ue about the2S $oes the final !eneration of saints achieve a level of holiness never reached beforeS Are there t0o levels of holiness" one for resurrection and one for translationS At this oint it is i2 ortant to clarify so2e differences bet0een Lustification and sanctification. In all !enerations there has been only one 2ethod of salvation= PFor by !race you have been saved throu!h faithA and this is not your o0n doin!" it is the !ift of GodKnot because of 0orks" lest any 2an should boastP ?E h %=;-'@. God has only one criterion for salvation= faith in the 2erits of a crucified Saviour. Hustification alone is our title to heaven. For God to chan!e the re1uire2ents on the last !eneration 0ould be unLust. Havin! said this" 0e 2ust also reco!niNe that throu!h the a!es GodGs servants have e7 erienced different levels of !ro0th and e7 erience. So2e" like Hose h and $aniel" lived lives of e7traordinary virtue and influence" 0ith no sin recorded a!ainst the2. 6thers like Sa2son and #anasseh co22itted horrendous cri2es" re entin! only at the end of life. So2e served faithfully throu!h the heat of the day" others only the last hour. 5one 0ere saved by their holinessKsanctification is not the 2eans" but the result of salvation.
276

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation It ou!ht not to be a 2atter of theolo!ical concern if God should lift a 0hole !eneration to a hei!ht of holiness rarely achieved before in order to !ive to the 0orld the last revelation of GodGs love. 4he .(("&&& standin! on #ount <ion 0ith the seal of God illu2inatin! their faces are that final 0itness to a 0orld called to choose bet0een the 0orshi of God and t$e 0orshi of the beast ?.(=.-.%@. Instead of a itiful re2nantK5oahGs ei!ht" EliLahGs :"&&&KGod 0ill have a full co2 le2ent of saints to call the (orld out of Babylon. 4he 1uestion re!ardin! a state of sinlessness de ends u on 0hether sin is defined as a!t or nature. 4he last livin! !eneration of GodGs eo le should certainly be free fro2 sinful actsA ho0ever" they do not lose their sinful" corru tible nature until they ut on incorru tion at the Second Advent ?. Cor .+=+*@. In the book of Revelation the saints are al0ays !on*uering ?2arked by the resent tense in the Greek@A only Christ has !on*uere$ ?the aorist tense@.9& Even durin! the seven last la!ues the saints are still !on*uering t$e beast and its i2a!e ?.+=%" Greek@. 4hey still contend 0ith the ene2y 0ithout and 0ithin. 4heir !reatest sin" 0hich they 2ust overco2e $uring the tribulation" is lack of faith. Met they are !on*uering, not bein! con1uered. 4hey are victorious in the stru!!le 0ith evil. 4hey are erfect in characterKthey choose only GodBs 0illK0hile they are still conscious of havin! to overco2e their sinful nature. Ho0ever" they stand sealed and spotless throu!h the 2erits of the Ia2b ?:=.(@. Circumstances o, t$e 1inal Con,lict Jhat is uni1ue about the !reat tribulationS Jhat 2akes it 0orse than any revious one ?$an .%=.@S Ellen Jhite e2 hasiNes t0o factors= livin! in the si!ht of a holy God 0ithout an intercessor 0ith the fear that not all sins are for!iven" and ersecution cul2inatin! in the death decreeKthe second causin! less an7iety than the first. 4o describe the an!uish of the ti2e of trouble" she dra0s heavily u on the e7 erience of Hacob as he 0restled 0ith the an!el. 9% Her e2 hasis is on the stru!!le. Revelation :"
9& 5u2erous ro2ises are !iven to Pthe one 0ho .eeps on !on*uering6 ?the linear 2eanin! of the resent tense@ as in the messa!es to t$e churches and the final reiteration in %.=:. By contrast" C$rist !on*uere$ ?*=%.@. 4he only ti2e it is said that t$e saints !on*uere$ is after they are dead ?.%=..@. 66 PJhatever does not roceed fro2 ,ait$ is sinP ?Ro2 .(=%*@. 4hose 0ho have never learned to trust in God 0ill suffer t$e !reatest distress durin! the ti2e of trouble ?see Jhite" The 'reat (ontroversy, 9%%@. 6A 8$ite' The 'reat (ontroversy, 9.(-.'. 277

Sealed Saints and the 4ribulation by contrast" d0ells on the victorious e2er!ence of the saints fro2 tribulation. 4hou!h the t0o ictures see2 dia2etrically o osed to each other" they are actually t0o sides of the sa2e coin. In ti2es of crisis or an!uish the !reatest horror is to e7 erience the absence of God. Jhen God does not rescue" 0hen He does not 2ake His resence felt" 0hen His only ans0er to our 1uestions is silence" then the soul is over0hel2ed 0ith doubt" des air" and darkness. 4he !reat stru!!le of the ti2e of trouble is to have faith in the si2 le 0ord of God 0ithout any e7ternal or internal evidence to su ort it. 4his 0as the stru!!le of Christ 0hen He cried out" P#y God" 2y God" 0hy hast thou forsaken 2eSP His triu2 hant cry" PIt is finishedVP 0as a victory of naked faith 0ithout any evidence e7ce t the 0ord of God to su ort it. If our inter retation of Revelation : is correct" it de icts the soulGs ascent to God throu!h faith. If 0e can rise above the horrors of earth to the resence of God" 0e can find the su ort of the 0hole heavenly hostK there Hesus leads to fountains of livin! 0ater and God 0i es the tears fro2 the eyes. 4he absence or resence of faith 2akes the difference bet0een Habbok darkness or throne-roo2 !lory. To e0er!ise this "aith un$er the most e0treme pressure is the uni*ue e0perien!e o"the "inal generation.

Vision O%Gective Jhat is the overall ur ose of cha ter : in the book of RevelationS /ndoubtedly it is 2eant to alert the church to its need to !et ready for the final conflict. 4he 0inds of strife are about to be!in their 0ork of devastation. 4here is no ti2e for delay. At the sa2e ti2e the restrainin! of the 0inds sho0s GodGs 2ercy in !ivin! His eo le ti2e to re are. 4here is also assurance in the sealin! 2essa!e. 4he seal itself is the !uarantee that the saints are secure. 6nce they are sealed their characters are inviolable" not subLect to chan!e" no 2atter ho0 severe the te2 tation. 4he 2athe2atical erfection and sy22etry of the .(("&&& indicates that GodGs lan for His Israel is erfectly realiNed" in s ite of the events that rock the church and the 0orld ?9=.%-.:@. Jhether one acce ts the double entendre conce t or not" the vision of the !reat 2ultitude before the throne i2 lies on the face of its lan!ua!e that God shelters and feeds and co2forts His eo le throu!hout the !reat tribulation. And 0hile Revelation : deals 0ith the final conflict" it undoubtedly can be a lied in rinci le to the lesser trials that assail the eo le of God throu!hout their earthly soLourn.
27"

C$apter /,,l T$e Mi!$ty An!el and +is Messa!e


Jillia2 H. Shea
Editorial Synopsis* Revelation .& co2 rises the first se!2ent of a arenthetical assa!e occurrin! bet0een the accounts of the si0th and seventh tru2 ets. 4his Penvelo eP fi!ure is si2ilar to that of Revelation : 0hich lies bet0een the resentation of the si7th and seventh seals. In both instances the PsidesP ?si7th" seventh sealsA si7th" seventh tru2 ets@ of the literary envelo e shed li!ht on locatin! the events ortrayed bet0een. I2 ortant insi!hts for the inter retation of this ro hecy are discovered 0hen it is co2 ared 0ith the i2a!ery and subLect 2atter of $aniel .%=(-.%. 6n this basis the o en scroll in the an!elGs hand is identified as the for2erly sealed book of $anielA the oath re!ardin! the cessation of ti2e is seen to deal 0ith ro hetic ti2eA and the historical ti2e fra2e for these eventsK ortrayed sy2bolicallyKis deter2ined. Seven chronolo!ical relationshi s" dra0n fro2 the i22ediate conte7t of the an!elGs oath as 0ell as fro2 $aniel" rovide a solid basis for identifyin! the kind of Pti2eP about 0hich the an!el s0ears and for locatin! in the nineteenth century the events ortrayed l the ro hecy. 4he scene is es ecially linked to the crucial year of .;(( and the closin! of the !reat ti2e s an of the %*&& years ?$an ;=.(@. Jith the nature of the ti2e ele2ent in the an!elGs oath clarified and the historical ti2e for his action deter2ined" the fulfill2ent in the real life of the church 2ay be seen in the #illerite 2ove2entKbased on the book of $anielKand the rise of the Seventh-day Adventist eo le 0ith the co22ission to P ro hesy a!ainP fro2 the ro hecies of $aniel to P eo les"P Pnations"P Pton!ues"P and Pkin!s.P

27.

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

T$e Mi!$ty An!el


Section Outline
I* Introduction II. $escri tion and Identification III. 4he Seven 4hunders I3. 4he 6ath

Introduction A &arent$etical &assa!e; Its Conte t


w , evelation l6co2 rises the first se!2ent of a arenthetical assa!e r,r occurrin! bet0een the accounts of the si7th and seventh tru2 ets HID,?Rev '=.*-%.A ..=.+.:@. 4he other se!2ent consists of a co22and to the ro het to evaluate the heavenly te2 le and the ro hecy of the 40o Jitnesses ?Rev ..@. A si2ilar literary attern laces Revelation : as a arenthetical assa!e bet0een the si7th and seventh seals ?Rev 9=.%-.:A ;=.@. 4he connections bet0een these arenthetical assa!es and their conte7ts rovide an aid for their inter retation. Revelation :. 4he arenthetical assa!e of Revelation : deals first 0ith an endti2e event= the sealin! of the .(("&&& ?vss. .-;@. 4hen follo0s a descri tion of an event that 0ill take lace after ChristGs second co2in!= the !atherin! of the redee2ed around the throne of God ?vss. '-.:@. 4he descri tions of these t0o events" one occurrin! Lust before and one after the co2in! of Christ" are set in a te7tual Luncture a ro riate to the end-ti2e of salvation history. As a arenthesis these t0o scenes are described in order after the si7th seal de icts the co2in! of Christ" but they are really an inte!ral art of the si7th seal. 4hus" the activity of sealin! describes the acce tance of those 0ho" in the final !eneration of earthGs history" 0ill be received by Christ at His co2in!. 4he descri tion of the !reat 2ultitude of the redee2ed follo0s naturally thereafter" a scene that 0ill take lace around GodGs throne follo0in! ChristGs co2in!. Revelation .&. As 0ith Revelation :" it is reasonable to e7 ect the arenthetical assa!e of Revelation .&-.. to be found in a literary conte7t a ro riate to its contents. Its t0o 2aLor se!2ents occur bet0een the 2"$

T$e #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

descri tions of the si7th tru2 et at the end of cha ter ' and the seventh tru2 et at the end of cha ter 66* Revelation .. rovides a 2ore s ecific ro hetic conte7t for Revelation .& than cha ter 7' because it refers to the ti2e 0hen Pthe kin!do2 of the 0orldP 0ill beco2e the kin!do2 of our Iord and of his Christ and their rule over that eternal kin!do2 0ill be taken u ?..=.+".:@. Jhile the si7th tru2 et is 2ore difficult to inter ret" still it 2ay be e7 ected to lead u K in one 0ay or anotherKto the cli2a7 of history that is announced under the seventh tru2 et. Je 2ay e7 ect" therefore" that the events ro hesied in Revelation .& ?and ..@ should contain so2e connection 0ith end-ti2e events. 4his connection is 2ade e7 licit in .&=: 0here it is stated that the 2essa!e roclai2ed by the 2i!hty an!el relates directly to the ti2e 0hen the tru2 et of the seventh an!el is to sound. R. H. #ounce ca tures the ur ose of this relationshi bet0een cha ter .& and its conte7t by observin! that arenthetical interludes like this one are Pliterary devices by 0hich the church is instructed concernin! its role and destiny durin! the final eriod of 0orld history.P. 4he thrust of cha ter .& in this literary arran!e2ent can also be seen fro2 #ounceGs co22ent that Peach nu2bered series 2oves us closer to the end" not so 2uch because it follo0s the recedin! series in se1uence but because it hei!htens and intensifies the final and cli2actic confrontation of God and the forces of evil.P% Literary Structure Revelation .& divides into three 2ain sections. 4he first ?vss. .-(@ contains t0o arts= the descri tion of a 2i!hty an!el ?vss. l-*a@A his first 2essa!e and the seven thunders ?*b-(@. 4he second section records the oath that the 2i!hty an!el s0ears re!ardin! the ti2e 0hen the 2ystery of God 0ill be fulfilled ?vss. +-:@. 4he third section describes HohnGs visionary e7 erience 0ith the scroll that he takes fro2 the 2i!hty an!el ?vss. ;-..@. Before roceedin! throu!h a study of each section" ho0ever" 0e should 2ake a fe0 additional re2arks about the cha terGs !eneral the2atic and literary features.
. R. H. #ounce" The Boo. o" Revelation, NICNT' .: E0rand Ra ids" .'::@" %&+A cf. G. R. BeaslcyMurray' The ook o" Revelation, T$e 5e0 Century Bible ?Grand Rapids' .':;@" .:&= PIn his vision Bo$n stands near t$e close o, t$e period o, t$e Messianic Gud!ments . si trumpets $ave already sounded.P A Mounce' %&+.

%;.

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

A the2atic link runnin! throu!h the three sections is the 2i!hty an!el" his deeds" and his 0ords. He is described hysically in the first section and his descent to the earth is 2entioned. 4hat is follo0ed by his call elicitin! the seven thunders. 4hus" in the first se!2ent of this cha ter" 0e find the a earance of" actions by" and an announce2ent fro2 the 2i!hty an!el. 4he oath of the 2i!hty an!el is the subLect of the second section. In this 0e also find both 0ord and deed. 4he action described is that of raisin! his hand to s0ear an oath. 4he 0ords of the oath deal 0ith an end to ti2e 0hen the 2ystery of God 0ill be co2 leted. In the third section the 2i!hty an!el a!ain s eaks and acts. His action is that of !ivin! the o ened scroll to the ro het for hi2 to eat and di!est. His 0ords re1uest the ro het to eat and describe his subse1uent reaction to the stran!e food. Fro2 this brief survey it is evident that the 2i!hty an!el is central to this cha ter fro2 be!innin! to end. 5o 2aLor section lies outside the real2 of his activity. It is 1uite a ro riate" therefore" to desi!nate this cha ter as belon!in! to the 2i!hty an!el" althou!h the direction of his 0ords and deeds vary. In the central e isode ?vss. +-:@ his 0ords and actions are directed to0ard heaven" 0hile in the first and last sections his 0ords and acts are directed to0ard earth ?vss. .-(";-..@. Several literary ideas link the first and third sections" but only one s ecific idea connects the central section and the other t0o. For e7a2 le" the Plittle scroll o enP is 2entioned once in the first section ?vs. %@ and three ti2es 2ore in the third section ?vss. ;-.&@. 4he an!el is also described in both sections as standin! Pon the seaP and Pon the landP ?vss. %";@. 4he third connection is the voice fro2 heaven. It is heard at the end of the first section ?vs. (@ and the be!innin! of the third ?vs. ;@. In the first instance the voice tells Hohn not to 0rite 0hat the seven thunders said ?vs. (@" 0hile the third section be!ins 0ith a reference to Pthe voice 0hich I had heard fro2 heavenP ?vs. ;@. 4he scroll does not a ear in the second section" nor is the voice fro2 heaven heard. 4he 2ain connection bet0een this section and the other t0o lies in the descri tion of the an!el as Pstandin! on the sea and the landP ?vss. %"+";@. A feature of the literary structure in the third section 2ay be noted in assin!. 4he t0o references to the s0eetness of the scroll in the ro hetGs 2outh and its subse1uent bitterness are !iven" as H. #. Ford has noted" * in a chiastic order=
* H. #. Ford" Revelation, A"' *; ?Ganien City" 5M" .':+@" .9+.

2"2

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

AR RG AG

It 0ill be bitter to your sto2ach ?vs. 'a@. But it 0ill be s0eet as honey to your 2outh ?vs. 'b@. It 0as s0eet as honey to 2y 2outh ?vs. l6a@. But... bitter to 2y sto2ach >vs. l6b@.

4his 2inor literary feature does not 2ake a 2aLor contribution to inter retation of the e isode" but it does co2 le2ent nicely the reversal in e7 erience that the ro het had 0ith the scroll in this sy2bolic e7 erience. 4he final section is further fra2ed by a voice fro2 heaven that s eaks to Hohn at the be!innin! of the e7 erience ?vs. ;@ and a voice that s eaks to hi2 a!ain at the end tellin! hi2 to ro hesy a!ain to the nations ?vs...@. 4he literary and the2atic relations 2entioned briefly have a bearin! u on the unity of this cha ter. An older" critical 2ethodolo!y" es oused es ecially by H. Jellhausen and his follo0ers" divided this cha ter into 2ulti le sources. In this" Jellhausen 0as consistent all the 0ay fro2 Genesis to Revelation. R. H. Charles has res onded to this rocedure 0ith a thorou!h and ersuasive revie0 of the le7ical and !ra22atical evidence for the unity of the cha ter.( For our resent ur oses" therefore" the cha ter 2ay be taken as a unified co2 osition and analyNed fro2 that stand oint. 4his is the osition taken by 2ost 2odern co22entators on Revelation. 4he brief observations 0e have 2ade on the literary and the2atic connections 0ithin the narrative oint in the sa2e direction of a sin!le author as evidenced by the cha terGs overall unity of co2 osition.

Description and Identi,ication


Description 4he first three verses of Revelation .& !ive a detailed descri tion of the an!el Hohn sees descendin! fro2 heaven. Si7 characteristics are !iven. First" a air of descri tive 2odifiers that refer to the an!el as PanotherP and P2i!hty.P 4hen" t0o hrases that describe the adorn2ent of the an!el= a cloudy !ar2ent around his body and a rainbo0 over his head. Iastly" t0o hrases describe his face and feet ?le!sS@. Anot$er an!el. 4he identification of this an!el in Revelation .& as
( R. H. Charles" The Revelation o" St. John, ICC' . ?Edinbur!h" .'%&@= %+9-+;.

2"3

4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

PanotherP >olios5 an!el is not es ecially si!nificant" but it does contrast this an!el 0ith the ones 0ho have receded hi2. 4he ter2 is a lied to an!els else0here in the book on various occasions. PAnotherP an!el in ;=* contrasts directly 0ith the seven an!els 0ho took u the tru2 ets in ;=%. 4he second and third an!els bearin! 2essa!es in Revelation .( are each referred to as PanotherP in contrast 0ith the an!el bearin! the first 2essa!e ?.(=9";@. GAnotherP an!el co2es do0n to earth in .;=. in contrast 0ith the seven an!els 0ho oured out their vials in Revelation .9. Since this an!el in .&=. is PanotherP an!el follo0in! the first si7 to blo0 their tru2 ets ?cha s. ;-'@" there is a contrast here 0ith the2. A mi!$ty an!el* 4he an!el in .&=. is not Lust another an!el" ho0everA he is another P2i!htyP >is.uros5 an!el. 4hus" he contrasts not so 2uch 0ith the recedin! tru2 et an!els as he does 0ith the 2i!hty an!el in +=% 0ho called for so2eone 0orthy to o en the sealed scroll in the ri!ht hand of God. 4he adLective P2i!htyP is a lied to one other an!el in Revelation" the one 0ho casts the !reat 2illstone into the sea as a token of the fall of s iritual Babylon ?.;=%.@. 6f the three an!els in Revelation referred to as P2i!hty"P this one in cha ter .& is the 2ost centrally located in the overall structure of the book. He is also the only one 0hose ersonal a earance is described in s ecific ter2s. T$e an!el9s ,ace* Jhen Hohn looks u on the face of this 2i!hty an!el it a ears Plike the sun.P 4he 2ost direct co2 arison 0ith this ty e of lan!ua!e is found in the descri tion of Christ at the be!innin! of Revelation ?.=.9@" and in #atthe0Gs account of the transfi!uration of Christ ?#att .:=%@. As H. #. Ford notes" PIn Revelation .=.9 the visa!e >apsis, notprosopon5 of one like a son of 2an a eared like the sun in its stren!th but the 0ordin! of the descri tion differs considerably fro2 that of .&=.. In the account of HesusG transfi!uration #atthe0 says that His face shone like the sun ?#att .:=%@" but the other evan!elists do not 2ake this co2 arison.P + 4he descri tion of the face of the divinelike bein! !iven in $aniel .&=+ 2entions its !lory in ter2s of li!htnin! and fire" but the sun is not alluded to. ENekiel .=%: describes the !lory of the u er torso of the erson of God as rese2blin! burnished bronNe and fla2in! fire" but the a earance of His face is not sin!led out. Rain%o(* Hohn sees a rainbo0 over the head of the an!el. 4he only
+ Ford" .+;. 2"4

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e other lace in Revelation 0here a si2ilar heno2enon a ears is the throne scene in 0hich Hohn sees a rainbo0 encirclin! the throne u on 0hich God sits in heaven ?(=*@. 4hus" the use of this sy2bol to describe the an!el 2ay i2 ly so2ethin! about his divinelike nature. 5o rainbo0 a ears in the vision of Christ in Revelation ." nor is one seen around the divinelike ersona!e in $anielGs vision ?$an .&=+-9@. Ho0ever" a rainbo0 does attend the erson of God as He is bein! trans orted by His 2obile throne in ENekielGs vision ?ENek .=%;@. 4he use of the rainbo0 as a token of GodGs faithfulness to His covenant 0ith 5oah is notable a2on! the 64 uses of the rainbo0 ?Gen '=.%-.:@. Its resence in Revelation .& 2ay e2 hasiNe the e7tension of that faithfulness to include the 54 covenant. #akin! a co2 arison 0ith natural heno2ena" 0e 2ay infer that the roduction of this rainbo0 results fro2 the !lory of the an!el" es ecially his face" reflectin! u on the cloud in 0hich he is 0ra ed. As Charles has noted" Pthe rainbo0 is due to the li!ht fro2 the an!eFs face on the cloud.P9 T$e an!el9s ,eet 4he descri tion of the PfeetP >po$es5 of the an!el see2s to resent a arado7" because the 0ord P illarsP >stuloi5 is used to describe the2. Since illars e7tend u 0ard fro2 their bases" this is thou!ht by so2e to refer to the le!s of the an!el" not his feet. Charles notes that %stuloi as a lied to feet see2s unintelli!ible.P: Since the Hebre0 0ord for PfootP has a secondary e7tended 2eanin! of Ple!"P Charles su!!ests the latter 2eanin! has been taken over into Greek here. But even Charles hi2self has noted the 0eakness of his o0n solution.; 4his 0ord for PfeetP occurs at least half a doNen ti2es else0here in Revelation. ' In all instances the reference clearly is to Pfeet"P not Ple!s.P 4he lan!ua!e used here co2es es ecially close to the descri tion of ChristGs feet and His !ar2ent in Revelation .=.*".+. 4hus" there is no le7ical 0arrant for translatin! this 0ord as Ple!s"P as the RS3 does. It should be translated as Pfeet.P 6ur interest does not lie in understandin! the an!elGs anato2y" but in deter2inin! the historical and literary locus fro2 0hich this kind of lan!ua!e ori!inated. A nu2ber of co22entators have ro osed a connection bet0een these illars and those illars of cloud and fire that led the Israelites durin! their 0anderin!s in the 0ilderness after leavin! E!y t.
9 Charles" %+' : Ibid. ; Ibid." %9&. 7 Rev .=.*".+A %=.;A *='A .*=%A and %%=; 2"5

T$e Mi!$ty An!el and His Messa!e

Ford" for e7a2 le" notes that the Pan!elGs feet 0hich are like illars of fire are re2iniscent of the illar of fire in the E7odus narrative.P .& G. B. Caird has contributed a si2ilar observation... H. B. S0ete su!!ested a s ecific te7tual relationshi = 6Instuloipuros there is erha s a reference to E7od. DI3 .'"%(.P.% Since the 8resence enclosed 0ithin the illar of cloud and fire 0as God Hi2self" the e2 loy2ent of this kind of descri tion for this an!el e2 hasiNes once 2ore his divinelike character. T$e an!el9s !arment 4he use of E7odus i2a!ery does not sto 0ith a consideration of the an!elGs feet. It continues on into a consideration of the an!elGs !ar2ent He is described as bein! P0ra ed in a cloud.P After references to nor2al at2os heric clouds are discarded" 0e discover 2any instances in 0hich clouds are connected 0ith the erson of God. .* Clouds are a art of the lan!ua!e of theo hany. Ilius" this kind of descri tion e2 hasiNes the an!elGs divinelike nature. But the connection of clouds and the $eity 2ay be 2ore s ecific. For e7a2 le" cou led 0ith the illar of fire ?in the E7odus@ 0as the illar of cloud Ksi2ilar to that in 0hich the !lorious an!el 0as 0ra ed. 4his association 2akes it easy to see a reference to the illar of fire and the illar of cloud in the descri tion of this an!el. Both features co2e fro2 GodGs revelation of Hi2self to Israel durin! their 0ilderness 0anderin!. 4he verb used for the 0ra in! of the cloudy !ar2ent around the an!el of Revelation .& >peribeblSmenon fro2 periballi3, Pto ut on" 0earKof clothin!P@ is not used in the E7odus account" either for God 0ra in! the illar of cloud or fire around Hi2self or around #ount Sinai. It is used" ho0ever" t0ice in the IDD of $aniel .%=9": to refer to the 0ay the linen !ar2ent 0as 0ra ed around the divinelike fi!ure described there" and it is used there in essentially the sa2e for2 >peribeblemenM5. 4he s ecific use of this sa2e verb in a si2ilar 0ay" connected 0ith a si2ilar fi!ure 0ho does thin!s si2ilar to the thin!s that the an!el in Revelation .& does" is one of the reasons 0hy co22entators have 2ade a direct connection bet0een these t0o assa!es. 4hese connections are revie0ed further belo0. For the resent (e 2ay si2 ly note that this an!el already de2onstrates relations to the illar of fire and cloud in the E7odus and 0ith the divinelike fi!ure in $aniel .& and .%.
.& Ford" 66A* .. G. B. Caird" The Revelation o" St. #ohn the &ivine ?5e0 Mork" .'99@" .%+. .% Q. R. S0cte" The po!alypse o" St. John ?Iondon" .'&'@" 6A6* .* T$is a lies to the OT E&ss ':=%A .&(=*A . D!s ;=..A EFe# .A(A Dan :=.*@" to t$e 54 ?#att .:=+A A:;2MJ Acts 6;7J 6 T$ess (=.:@" and to I$c %oo# of Revelation ?.=:A .(=.(@. ! 6

T$e #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e Actions Si7 2aLor actions of the 2i!hty an!el are identified= .. He co2es do0n fro2 heaven to earth. %. He holds an o en scroll in his hand. *. He laces one foot u on the earth and the other u on the sea. (. He calls out 0ith a loud voice that sounds like the roar of a lion ?and this elicits the seven thunders@. +. He raises his hand and s0ears an oath by the Creator God. 9. He !ives the o en scroll to the ro het for hi2 to Peat.P 4he last three actions for2 an inti2ate art of the 2aLor ro hetic state2ents of the narrative. 4hey are discussed in succeedin! sections. Je (ill revie0 only the first three briefly at this oint. Descent to eart$* Since the an!el roclai2s a s ecial 2essa!e u on his descent fro2 heaven" it is evident that he is sent at a articular ti2e to roclai2 a s ecial 2essa!e on earthA he is a s ecial 2essen!er. 4he uni1ueness of this an!elGs 0ork 2ay be e2 hasiNed by co2 arin! his activity 0ith that of other an!els in Revelation. For e7a2 le" the an!els in the court scene ?Rev (-+@ are restricted to heaven in that ortrayal. 4he tru2 ets blo0n by seven an!els ?Rev ;-'@ have earthly effects" but there is no indication that they descend to earth to sound their instru2ents. 4he an!els 0ho our out the la!ue vials ?Rev .9@ are 2ore directly connected 0ith earth" but even that oint is not stated as directly as it is in Revelation .&=.. 4he an!els 0ho !ive three end-ti2e 2essa!es ?Rev .(@ fly in 2id-heavenA the other three an!els described at the end of the cha ter are 2ore directly connected 0ith earth throu!h their artici ation in the harvest. 4he 2ost direct arallel in Revelation to the descent of the an!el in cha ter .& is the an!el at the be!innin! of Revelation .;=. 0ho co2es to earth to !ive his s ecial end-ti2e 2essa!e about Babylon. In the case of the an!el in Revelation .& it is a re-end-ti2e 2essa!e that he !ives. 4his directional activity e2 hasiNes the i2 ortance of both of these an!elsB 2essa!es. As #ounce has stated" Pthe dra2atic a earance of an authoritative fi!ure fro2 heaven stands in 2arked contrast to the i22ediately recedin! tableau of 2anGs rebellious idolatry and i22orality.P.( T$e use of the resent artici le Pco2in! do0nP >.aiabainonta5 indicates that Hohn 0atched this an!el descendP 4his not only e2 hasiNes
.( #ounce" %&;. .+ Ibid.. %&:. 2"7

44ie,,!hty An!el and His #essa!e

that the an!el ca2e at a articular ti2e to !ive a articular 2essa!e" it also says so2ethin! about the ers ective fro2 0hich the ro het vie0ed this scene. 3arious co22entators hold that fro2 (=. to this oint Hohn vie0ed the chan!in! scenes as thou!h he 0ere in heaven. 4hey !enerally a!ree that he no0 sees this scene ?Rev .&@ fro2 an earthly ers ective.P +oldin! an o en scroll* 4he second action of the an!el is that of holdin! an o en scroll in his hand. Jhen he later s0ears his oath ?vs. 9@ he lifts his ri!ht hand to0ard heaven. 4hus" 0e 2ay assu2e that he held the little scroll in his left hand. 5o articular si!nificance need be attached to this use of hands e7ce t to note that robably the ri!ht hand 0as nor2ally raised to s0ear an oath..: 4he nature of this scroll and its si!nificance are of obvious i2 ortance to this ro hecy. It is co22only ointed out that the 0ord used for Plittle scrollP or PbookP differs fro2 that 0hich is used in Revelation +=.. 4hat is a correct observation for in Revelation +=. the 0ord used is biblion ?book" scroll@" a di2inutive for2 o" biblos ?book@" 0hereas in Revelation .& the 0ord used four ti2es is biblari$ion ?little book@" a di2inutive for2 of biblarion ?little book@. Biblion is the co22on 0ord used for PbooksP or PscrollsP in Revelation" occurrin! %& ti2es. 4he 2ore standard for2 of biblos occurs only t0ice ?*='A %&=.+@. Biblari$ion ?little book@ occurs no0here in Scri ture other than Revelation .&. Re!ardless of the distinction bet0een biblos ?book@ and biblion ?book" scroll@" therefore" the contrast bet0een biblari$ion ?little book@ in Revelation .& and biblion ?book" scroll@ in the rest of Revelation is 1uite shar and distinct and surely 2ust be intentional. .; 4he PbookP of Revelation .& thus stands in contrast to" and is not identified 0ith" the one in Revelation 3;6* It should be noted that the little book is already o en 0hen the an!el descends. 4he book is 2entioned before the an!el laces his feet on land and sea. 4his 2eans the book 0as o ened" resu2ably in heaven" before the an!el 0as sent 0ith his 2ission and 2essa!e based on its contents. Given the e2 hasis that this scroll is no0 o en" it is reasonable to assu2e that" like the one in +=." it 0as sealed or closed until the an!elGs
.9 1ora co22entaiy e7 ression of this vie0 see G. E. Iadd">l (onwnet;ary o"+the &eve%ation of John E0rand Ra ids" .':.@" 6:6J 5Since (=. he has been 0ritin! as thou!h he 0ere in heaven but his osition has no0 s$i,ted %ac# to eart$*5 C,* + .% ENas$ville' .'+:@A (*;-*'. .: 1or an e ample of an oath s(orn by one man to another see 0en 6:;AA* For e amples of oat$s s(orn by 0od to men see Erod 9=;A #u2 .(=*&A EFe# %&=.+"%;. .; Althou!h bib"ion ?book" scrollH does occur one ti2e in Rev .&=;" the do2inant emp$asis on bibT lari$ion ?little scroll Tfour ti2esU@ indicates that this scroll is different ,rom t$e scroll in Rev 3*

2""

T$e #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

a earance. 4he use of the erfect artici le to describe this o enness e2 hasiNes not only that the scroll had been reviously o ened" but that it 0as to re2ain o en thereafter..' At this oint the discussion of the little scroll 2ay be left inco2 lete 0ithout 2akin! a final identification of it. Je 0ill e7a2ine that issue 2ore fully later on. Standin! on sea and land* 4he an!el laces his ri!ht foot u on the sea and his left foot u on the earth or land. 4his 2eans" incidentally" that the hand 0ith the scroll 0as held out over the earthA the hand held u to s0ear the oath 0as over the sea. 4hus" the land and sea ?co2bined in synthetic arallelis2@ can be taken to re resent the 0hole earth. 4his an!elic action" and the lan!ua!e describin! it" refers to the 0orld0ide e7tent of the rocla2ation of the 2essa!e and the authority of this an!el. %& A 2inority vie0 e7 ressed by Ba2house sees the sea and land as referrin! to the Gentile nations and Israel res ectively. %. If this 0ere the case then the sy2bolis2 results in a badly 2i7ed 2eta hor= land re resentin! one land ?Israel@ and 0aters re resentin! other lands ?Gentiles@. Ho0ever" the conclusion of the cha ter re!ardin! HohnGs reachin! to all nations a!ain i2 lies that no such distinction 0as intended at the outset of this narrative. It is referable" therefore" to see the lan!ua!e of land and sea as ortrayin! a icture of universalis2 here. Speci,ic Identi,ication I(o vie(s* 4here are t0o 2ain vie0s on the identification of the an!el in Revelation .&. 6ne is that this is a s ecial an!el of e7alted rank. 4he other is that this is an an!elic re resentation of God" 2ore s ecifically Christ. H. A. Seiss is a2on! those co22entators 0ho have identified this an!el as Christ.%% $ra0in! co2 arisons 0ith the an!elGs !lory" cloudy !ar2ent" and rainbo0 headdress" $. G. Ba2house also has identified this fi!ure as Christ. Ford has dra0n es ecially u on co2 arisons 0ith ele2ents in the E7odus narrative to identify this fi!ure as robably Pthe An!el of the Covenant" so2eti2es identified 0ith Mah0eh.P%( In his older 0ork g. R.
.' #ouncc" %&:. %& As re resentative of this oint sec #ounce" %&;A I. #orris" The Revelation o" St. #ohn, 4yndale 5e0 4esta2ent Co22entaries." %& ?Ieicester" En!land" .';*@= .*:A Iadd" .(%A Caird" .%+. %. D* 0' Ba2house" Revelation, n E0pository (ommentary ?Grand Ra ids" .':.@" .;.. %% H. A. Seiss" The po!alypse ?8hiladel hia" .;9+@" %%*. %* Ba2house" .:'. %( Ford" .9*.

2".

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

Elliott has ur!ed the inter reter of Revelation .& to Pconsider too the erson announcin! itA the sa2e divine Covenant An!el" Hehovah Hesus.P %+ In ar!uin! the alternate oint of vie0" Charles has ro osed that this an!el 2ay be Gabriel. +e ar!ues that this an!el is not Christ because the use of an oath by God Hi2self is ina ro riate. %9 G. E. Iadd holds that this is a urely an!elic fi!ure on the basis that in Revelation an!els are only an!els" and God is not re resented as an an!el any0here in the book of Revelation.%: 4hese t0o obLections are not as for2idable as they 2i!ht a ear. 4here are instances in the 64 0here God is stated to have taken oaths. 4hree of these have been cited above. %; It is true that the 0ord Pan!elP is used not s ecifically for God in Revelation" but the fi!ure of #ichael in Revelation .% is both an!elic and Christlike in character. 6ne should also take into account the ori!in of the i2a!ery e2 loyed here. 4he illar of fire and cloud i2a!ery is dra0n es ecially fro2 the E7odus account. In that account Mah0eh is the 6ne 0ho is said to have in habited the illar of cloud and acted fro2 it ?E7od .*=%.@. 6n at least one occasion" ho0ever" it is said that it 0as Pthe an!elP of Mah0eh 0ho did so ?E7od .(=.'@. 4his kind of connection could have been taken over into the i2a!ery of Revelation alon! 0ith other ele2ents fro2 the E7odus account. Evidence ,or a C$ristli#e fi!ure. In favor of the identification 0ith Christ" 0e observe that the four 2ain characteristics of this an!el are 2ost co22only connected 0ith re resentations of God. 4his a lies to the a earance of his feet as illars of fire" to the cloudy !ar2ent 0ra ed around hi2" to the !lory seen radiatin! fro2 his face" and to the rainbo0 seen over his head. All four characteristics occur in connection 0ith descri tions of God else0here in the Bible. 5one of the2 are used e7clusively for an!els. If this is only an an!elic fi!ure" he surely has been endo0ed 0ith e7tensive divinelike characteristics. An additional oint derives fro2 a consideration of si2ilar assa!es available for co2 arison. 4hese are Revelation ." $aniel .& and .%" and ENekiel .. In these assa!es the 2ain fi!ure is divine. In Revelation . it is Christ. ENekiel . identifies its central character as Mah0eh. 4he fi!ure resent in $aniel .& is certainly Godlike and 2ore e7alted than the an!els resent in the narrative.
Av E* "* Elliott" Horae po!atypu!ae < ?Iondon" .;(9@" .%*. %9 Charles" %+;. %: Ladd'.(.. %; E od 9=;A 5u2 .(=*&A ENek %&=.+" %;.

2.$

T$e #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

Since these co2 arisons co2e the closest to the descri tion of the an!el of Revelation .&" and since these 8ersons are divine" these co2 arisons su!!est that the fi!ure resent in Revelation .& is Christlike" and not Lust an an!el. 0eneral Identi,ication Comparison (it$ Daniel 6M;6J .%=:. By the e7 ression P!eneral identificationP I intended to evoke another relationshi or link 0ith the an!el or divinelike fi!ure in $aniel .& and .%. #any co22entators have noted a relationshi . Jhile so2e have described it in 2ore detail than others" a survey of the co22entaries has failed to turn u any instance in 0hich this relationshi has been denied.%' In his co22entary on Revelation .& Elliott referred to $aniel as Pa ro het and ro hecy here evidently referred to.P *& 6f the relationshi bet0een the an!els found in these t0o assa!es Charles observes" Pour author ?of Rev .&@ had the an!el described in $an D. 9" DII. : before his 2ind.P*. Ieadin! u to his 1uote of $aniel .%=9-:" Caird connects Revelation .&=+-9 0ith that assa!e by notin! that Pat this oint Hohn be!ins to ada t to his o0n ur oses an 6ld 4esta2ent assa!e 0hich 0ill fi!ure ro2inently in 2any of his subse1uent visions.... Hohn believed that this ro hecy of $aniel" alon! 0ith other 6ld 4esta2ent ro hecies" 0as about to have a ne0 and richer fulfil2ent.P*% In his co22ent on this assa!e in Revelation #ounce notes" 5It is $aniel .%=:" ho0ever" that su lies the inter retive back!round for this section.P** In addition to such !eneral connections" co22entators have also 2ade s ecific connections bet0een these t0o assa!es in ter2s of their details. In his co22ents on $aniel .%=: Clarke noted" Pthis is very si2ilar to the descri tion of the an!el ?in@ Revelation .&=+.P *( Elliott noted that in Revelation .& Pthe sa2e Covenant-An!el" Hehovah Hesus" that no0 brou!ht 0ith hi2" as his o0n ro er investiture" the sa2e !lory as the God-2an in $anielGs earlier vision.P*+
%' So2e e amples o, t$ose who have noted this correlation in !eneral ter2s= Elliott" Charles" Caird" and Mounce* 2M Elliott' 6A6* *. C$aries' %+'. *% Caild' .%:. ** #ounce" %.&. *( A. Clarke" P4he Holy "i%le'5 (ommentary an$ (riti!al Notes, Revelation ?Re rint" 5ashville" .'*;@" 9.;. *+ Elliott" 6A2*

%'.

4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

Oat$* 4he action of the an!el of $aniel .% and the an!el of Revelation .& can be co2 ared in ter2s of their very si2ilar oath. 6f this relationshi Elliott 0rote" PBesides all 0hich" it is 2ost i2 ortant ?as 0ill soon a ear on our enterin! on the history@ that 0e 2ark the arallelis2 of the act and oath" 0ith that other Lust alluded to in $anielA a arallelis2 so strikin! that it see2s incredible but that the allusion to it 2ust have been 2eant" and one i2 rest on the 2ind of St. Hohn.P*9 Ford also co22ents on both the oath and the actions 0hich acco2 any it= P4he oath s0orn in Revelation .&=9-: reflects $aniel .%=:-' 0here the an!el clothed in linen s0ears 0ith his ri!ht and left hands to0ard heaven that there 0ill be Ba ti2e" t0o ti2es" and half a ti2eG before the end of the 0onders.P*: Caird is concerned es ecially 0ith the content of the oath. He notes that Revelation has added to the oath as it is found in $aniel= PHohnGs an!el 2akes one i2 ortant addition to the 0ords of $anielGs an!el. He s0ears" not si2 ly by the eternal God" but by hi2 who !reate$ heaven, earth, an$ sea, an$ everythingin them TauthorGs e2 hasosU. P* Fiddle also refers 2ore to the 0ords of the oath than the actions connected 0ith it 0hen he observes" Pthe an!elGs oath is an echo of $aniel .%=:. P*' Sealin!* 4here is also a reference to a 0ork of sealin! in both assa!es. 4he sealin! in Revelation .& involves the seven thundersA in $aniel .% it involves the scroll of the ro het. Ho0ever" it has been noted that the use of this kind of lan!ua!e in the conte7t of an oath a ears to have been taken over fro2 the earlier assa!e into the later one. F. Glasson has noted this connection= P4he sealin! here ?in Revelation .&=+@ sho0s the influence of $aniel .%=( and '.... 4he sa2e cha ter of $aniel has no doubt su!!ested the lan!ua!e here ?in Revelation .&=9@" a 2an clothed in linen" clearly an an!el ?1uotes $aniel .%=:@.P(& Ford has 2ade a si2ilar state2ent about the use of this hraseolo!y and has observed that S0ete took this hrase as co2in! fro2 $aniel .%=(= PBut the a lication of the 2eta hor to un0ritten utterances is a bold innovation.P(. &rop$etic time* Finally" another i2 ortant connection bet0een these
*9 Ibid-" .%(. *: 1onH' .9%. *; Caird" .%'. *' p. Fiddie" The Revelation o" St. #ohn ?Iondon" .'(&@" .:%. (& b* 1* 0lasson' The Revelation o" #ohn ?Ca2brid!e" .'9+@" 9:. (. Ford" .+'.

2.2

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e t0o assa!es involves the fact that both ersona!es s0ear in their oaths about ro hetic ti2e. Since that ele2ent belon!s to a discussion of the central assa!e in the cha ter" its discussion is reserved until 0e arrive at that oint in our study.

T$e Seven T$unders )niIue Messa!e


An e7a2ination of the seven-thunder assa!e discloses a roble2 of considerable 2a!nitude ?vss. *-(@. Jhen the 2i!hty an!el called out" the seven thunders sounded. Jhen they sounded" the ro het listened and understood the2. After the thunderin! ceased" the ro het started to record their 2essa!e. At this oint" ho0ever" he is instructed not to 0rite but to seal u their 2essa!e. Je are faced" therefore" 0ith a 2essa!e that 0as !iven but taken back. Lionli#e call* AnalyNin! the assa!e" 0e should note first that the thunders issue in res onse to a loud call fro2 the 2i!hty an!el. 4he call is described as soundin! Plike a lion roarin!.P 4he fi!ure of a lion roarin! is used on occasion in the 64 to convey the idea i2 endin! Lud!2ent. A2os 0arned Israel of co2in! Lud!2ents 0ith this kind of lan!ua!e= P$oes a lion roar in the forest" 0hen he has no reyS ".. 4he lion has roaredA 0ho 0ill not fearS 4he Iord God has s okenA 0ho can but ro hesySP ?A2os *=(" ;@. 4he ene2y surroundin! the sufferin! servant of God in 8sal2 %% is described first as a Pravenin! and roarin! lionP ?vs. .*@. After the beast has attacked" the servant leads for deliverance Pfro2 the 2outh of the lionP ?vs. %.@. #ounce observes that the call or Proarin!P is co22ensurate 0ith the siNe of the 2i!hty an!elA the call is !iven 0ith a dee resonant voice that de2ands attentions-Ford focuses on the 1uality of the an!elGs utterance conveyed by the 54 0ord" 6mu.atai GroarG only here in the Bible. Io0 sound" !ro0l of thunder. Ioud in volu2e and e7tre2ely dee but not actual 0ords.P(* Given co2 arisons 0ith this kind of lan!ua!e e2 loyed else0here in the Bible" it is reasonable to e7 ect that the an!elGs cry carries a connotation of Lud!2ent here.

(% Mounce' %&;. :2 1ord' 637* !13

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

T$under Sym%olism In res onse to the loud cry of the 2i!hty an!el" seven thunders ru2bled. Je are not told fro2 0here they issued or 0ho caused the2. Ho0ever" on the basis of arallels found else0here in Revelation" it is reasonable to take these thunders as havin! sounded fro2 heaven. 4hat bein! the case" they 2ost likely 0ould have sounded at the co22and of God. 4hus" God caused these thunders in res onse to the an!elGs call. 4he use of the nu2ber : i2 lies thatKlike the seven churches" seals" tru2 ets" and la!uesKthese seven thunders sounded successively and not all at once. jk discover 0hat these seven thunders 2i!ht re resent" 0e need to e7a2ine the uses of the 0ord PthunderP else0here in Revelation. Aside fro2 the three ti2es the 0ord occurs in the assa!e under consideration" it a ears in seven other assa!es in Revelation. 4hree rovide little insi!htA the other four are of 2ore 2aLor si!nificance. In the three lesser i2 ortant occurrences the 0ord is used for co2arative and descri tive ur oses= once for the voice of one of the livin! creatures ?9=.@" and t0ice for the sound of !reat 2ultitudes of redee2ed in heaven as they sin! son!s of raise ?.(=%A .'=9@. In the four re2ainin! assa!es the 0ord for PthunderP 2ay shed 2ore li!ht in our search. In all four instances the te2 le of God in heaven is described. Further2ore" these descri tions of the heavenly te2 le serve either as an introduction or a conclusion to one of the 2aLor lines of ro hecy in the book. In the first instance" the throne scene serves as an introduction to the series of seals ?(=+@. In the second instance" the thunders occur in the te2 le as art of the introduction to the tru2 ets ?;=(-+@. In the third instance" the thunders occur 0ith the descri tion of the te2 le that serves as the introduction to the 2aLor ro hecies of Revelation .%-.( ?..=.'@. (( In the final occurrence of this kind of lan!ua!e the thunders fro2 the throne and the te2 le serve as the conclusion to the vial- la!ue se1uence in Revelation .9 ?.9=.;@. In these four instances the 0ord for PthunderP is found in a series of 0ords 0ith other associated heno2ena. 4he co2 lete list includes flashes of li!htnin!" voices or loud noises" eals of thunder" earth1uake" and !reat
(( I concur0ith the vie0 of F- Strand 0ho laces Rev ..=.' as the introduction to cha s. .%-.( rather than as the conclusion of cha . ... F. Strand" P4he G3ictorious-IntroductionG Scenes in the 3isions in the Booh of Revelation"P VSS %+ ?.';:@= %:*. See re rint in cha . * of this volu2e.

2.4

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e hailstones. As can be seen readily fro2 this list" all these 0ords refer to different heno2ena that 2ay acco2 any a stor2. 4hese ortrayals are in essence" therefore" descri tions of a theo hany of God" actin! as the stor2 God on the articular occasions described in these assa!es. 4he 1uestion is" Jhat is co22on to all four of these occasions that 0ould elicit this articular ty e of res onse fro2 GodS Before dealin! 0ith this central 1uestion" so2e other features in these scenes should be 2arked. For e7a2 le" there is a ro!ression in the elaboration of the ele2ents resent in these lists as they are recorded successively throu!h the book of Revelation. 4he first scene contains three ele2entsA the second has fourA and the last t0o list five. 4hus" the reader is 2ade a0are of a crescendo in the accu2ulation of these ele2ents as he roceeds throu!h the Irook. Althou!h t$ere are occasional inversions' these storm elements are listed in so2e0hat the sa2e order in all assa!es. In the first and last instances these ele2ents are said to issue fro2 the throne of God in heavenA in the other t0o cases they are si2 ly said to occur 0ithout so direct a connection. 5one of the four assa!es describe the heno2ena as roceedin! directly fro2 the erson of God Hi2self" althou!h they are obviously under His control. 4he co22on deno2inator that a ears to run throu!h these four scenes is that of Lud!2ent. 4he heno2ena are seen to issue fro2 GodGs throne at the ti2es He sends forth His Lud!2ents. 4his is 1uite evident in the case of the tru2 ets ?;=(-+@ and the la!ues ?.9=.;@. 4he conce t of Lud!2ent is likely in ..=.'" the verse that introduces the ro hetic scenes of 0arfare bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an ?Rev .%-.*@ leadin! u to the Lud!2ent announced in Revelation .(. Since the throne scene of Revelation (-+ also serves to introduce the series of seals ?Rev 9@" and since the seals can be seen as containin! ele2ents of Lud!2ent too" the a earance of the thunder and its associated stor2 ele2ents can also be seen as connected 0ith the idea of Lud!2ent. If the thunders issuin! fro2 the throne in these four assa!es are connected 0ith the Hud!2ents of God" then one 2i!ht e7 ect that the seven thunders heard in Revelation .& 0ould be related also to the the2e of Lud!2ent. 4his connection has been noted by so2e of the co22entators. Barnhouse" for e7a2 le" refers to the seven thunders as the record of Lud!2ents a!ainst the rebellious.(+ Iadd refers to these thunders as re2oni(+ Ba2house" .;%.

2.5

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

tions of the co2in! Lud!2ents of GodGs divine 0rath.(+ Both Barnhouse and Iadd have called attention to the arallel bet0een these thunders and the sevenfold thunderin! of the voice of Mah-0eh in the stor2 described in 8sal2 %'. In this connection it should %e noted that 8sal2 %' is also a sal2 of Lud!2ent" and that Lud!2ent is sent fro2 the throne of God in the heavenly sanctuary ?vss. .-%"'-..@. 4hat the Canaanites are the tar!et of the Lud!2ent brou!ht by the stor2 is evident fro2 the fact that" accordin! to the !eo!ra hical references in the 8sal2" the stor2 never touches Israelite territory. Fro2 these arallels found else0here in Revelation 0e 0ould have e7ected the seven thunders to have announced a series of Lud!2ents if their 2essa!e had been trans2itted 0ithout interru tion. Ho0ever" the ro het 0as instructed to seal u the 2essa!es and not to record the2. Jhat does this 2eanS If nothin! 0as ever to be kno0n about the2" then it 0ould see2 stran!e to have 2ade any announce2ent about the2 at all. 4heir announce2ent follo0ed by their sealin! should" therefore" have so2e ro hetic si!nificance and e7 lanation. Several theories have been ro osed to e7 lain this hi2 of circu2stances. 6ne idea is that this constitutes a literary device to insert a se1uence that is already 0ell kno0n to the readers. Another e7 lanation 0ould localiNe these thunders in heavenA therefore" no e7 lanation 0as necessary to be !iven on earth. 4he referable e7 lanation" thus far" is that of Caird 0ho su!!ests that these seven thunders announced Lud!2ents of doo2" but that the doo2 0as cancelled. (: Sealin! t$e T$unders 4he use of the verb for sealin! to describe the conceal2ent of the 2essa!e of the seven thunders is unusual. Else0here in the book of Revelation sealin! relates directly to 0hat that action entailed= lacin! a seal u on an obLect or docu2ent. For e7a2 le" 0e are sho0n the sealin! of the servants of God in their foreheads ?:=*@A the sealin! of the scroll 0ith seven seals ?+=.@A and 0e have the instructions not to seal u the 2essa!e of HohnGs ro hetic scroll ?%%=.&@. In Revelation .&=(" ho0ever" the ro het is told not to 0rite do0n 0hat the seven thunders had announced" and in this 2anner he 0as to seal u 0hat they had said. 4he roble2 here is that you donGt nor2ally Pseal u P an oral co22unication.
:6 Ladd'6:A* (: Caird" .%9.

2.6

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

A rather ready e7 lanation for this unusual circu2stance e2er!es fro2 $aniel .%" the 2aLor arallel for the scene in Revelation .&. In $aniel the ro het looks on in verse +A the !lorious an!el a ears in verse 9A and t$e an!el takes his oath in verse :. If 0e !o back to the instructions i22ediately recedin! these verses" 0e Find the co22and to the ro het to both Pshut u the 0ordsP an$ Pseal the bookP ?vs. (@. 4he sa2e kind of lan!ua!e is used in the Revelation scene" but in a dyna2ic" not a froNen 0ay. In $aniel .% the ro het shuts up the 0ords 0hen he seals the scroll. In Revelation .& the ro het seals u the 0ords 0hen he shuts the2 u by not recordin! the2. Si2ilar instructions are !iven in a si2ilar conte7t" but they are carried out in a different 2anner to fit the ne0 settin! in Revelation. 4hus" the solution to the roble2 osed by the tension bet0een the t0o different kinds of actions described in Revelation .&=( ?seal u A donGt 0rite@ a ears to be rovided by the ori!inal source fro2 0hich this i2a!ery is derived. T$unders Replaced %y &la!uesC So2e co22entators see a connection bet0een the seven thunders and the seven la!ues of Revelation .9. Glasson s eaks in lan!ua!e that su!!ests that the seven last la!ues take the lace of 0hat the seven thunders 0ould have rovided= PReference to the seven thunders 2i!ht lead one to e7 ect another series of 0oes= the first thunder" the second" and so on. But this idea is not develo edA and as 0e shall see" the seven tru2 ets are in due course follo0ed by the seven bo0ls ?cha . .9@.P (; #ounce refers to t$e seven thunders as Panother series of 0arnin! la!ues.P (' 4he seven bo0ls are referred to as the seven last la!ues" because they are the final Lud!2ents to fall before Christ co2es the second ti2e ?.+=.@. In Revelation .& 0e find seven thunders= Lud!2ents or la!ues that a arently 0ould have co2e very near the end of ti2e" for they 0ould have occurred in the ti2e 0hen the seventh an!el 0as to sound his tru2 et and the 2ystery of God 0as to be finished ?.&=:@. Had the thunders sounded at the ti2e 0hen they 0ere announcedK and not been shut u Kthey could 0ell have been the final Lud!2ent- la!ues the2selves. As it 0orked out" this 0as not to be the case. 4heir lace 0as taken by the la!ues of Revelation .9. Je 2ay ut this relationshi in another 0ay= 4hese enulti2ate Hud!2ents of the seven thunders
(; Glasson" 9*. (' #ounce" %&'. 2.7

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e 0ere announced but recalled" only to be re laced by the ulti2ate Lud!2ents delivered in the seven last la!ues. Is there a ti2e in ro hetic and salvation history 0hen such reli2inary Lud!2ents 0ould have been announced but recalledS 4hat 1uestion of ti2e takes us to the ne7t section of the ro hecy.

The 9ath
T$e &osition o, t$e An!el 4he central assa!e in this cha ter is verses +-:. It is central not only in ter2s of literary structure" but also in ter2s of the2atic i2 ortance. 4he first ele2ent 2entioned is the stance of the an!el 0ith one foot on the sea and the other on the land. Je observed that this ty e of sy2bolis2 re resents the 0orld0ide e7tent of the 2essa!e of the 2i!hty an!el. 4he ne0 action introduced is the an!elGs raisin! his ri!ht hand to s0ear an oath. Since this 0as the 2anner in 0hich oaths 0ere 2ade in HohnGs ti2e" the sy2bolis2 is dra0n fro2 nor2al hu2an e7 erience. 4he fact that the ri!ht hand 0as lifted to do this s0earin! ?RS3@ indicates that the o en scroll 0as still held in his left hand. T$e Open Scroll Althou!h the o en scroll is not 2entioned a!ain in these verses ?vss. +-:@" its resence should be assu2ed to be an i2 ortant art of this scene. 4he fact that the an!el raises one hand to s0ear the oath and at the sa2e ti2e holds the o en scroll in the other indicates that the oath should be related to the contents of the scroll. 4his 2akes the identification of the scroll a 2atter of considerable i2 ortance if 0e are to understand the 2essa!e of the vision. Earlier 0e observed that the Greek 0ord used for PscrollP in cha ter .& differs fro2 that used in +=. and else0here in Revelation. Hence" the scroll in Revelation .& should be taken as distinct fro2 those other scrolls. 4he distinction tells us 0hat this scroll 0as not" but not 0hat it is. Daniel &arallel 4he best 0ay to identify this little scroll is to co2 are its conte7t 0ith arallels found else0here in the Bible. Jhen this is done" the arallel bet0een this assa!e and that of $aniel .% beco2e a arent. Several si2ilarities already have been referred to above. 4o these 2ay no0 be added the action of s0earin! an oath. 2."

4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e $aniel .% and Revelation .& are the only t0o assa!es in the Bible that refer to an!els s0earin! oaths. Both occu y relatively si2ilar ositions. 4he an!el of $aniel .&>.% stands over the 4i!ris River 0hile the an!el of Revelation .& stands astride land and sea. Jhen s0earin! both raise their hands to heaven. In $aniel .% both hands are raised to heavenA in Revelation .&" only the ri!ht hand is raised. Je note in assin! that the ri!ht hand is 2entioned first in $aniel .% 0hile the ri!ht hand is the only hand 2entioned in Revelation .&. 4he obvious e7 lanation for this difference is that the an!el of $aniel .% did not have a scroll in his handA thus he could raise both hands. 4he an!el of Revelation .& had a scroll in his left hand" so he could raise only his ri!ht hand.

Identity o, Open "oo#


4his difference rovides a direct 0ay by 0hich to identify the o en scroll held by the 2i!hty an!el. I22ediately recedin! the descri tion of the an!elGs oath in $aniel .%" reference is 2ade to the scroll of the ro het $aniel ?.%=(@. $aniel is instructed to shut u the 0ords of his 0ritten ro hecies by rollin! u his scroll and sealin! it. 4he sealin! 0as not a literal sealin! to authenticate his Finished 0ritin!. Rather" it sy2bolically re resented the fact that at a later ti2eKPthe ti2e of the endPKthe ro hecies of his scroll 0ould be o ened to the understandin! of those 0ho 0ould search back and forth in that scroll for its i2 ortant 2essa!e. 5o0 0e co2e to the an!el 0ho holds a scroll o en in his hand in Revelation .&. 4he e2 hasis u on the o en state of this scroll stands in contrast to the closed state of the scroll of $aniel in that for2er ti2e. 4his e2 hasis also says so2ethin! about the ti2e 0hen the scroll of Revelation l60as o ened. Its o enin!" i2 lied by Revelation .&=:" 0ould occur in the ti2e 0hen the seventh and last tru2 et an!el 0as about to sound his tru2 et. In other 0ords the action of the an!el 0ith the o ened book is an end-ti2e event or an event 0hich 0as to occur in the Pti2e of the end.P In one case ?$an .%=(@" 0e have a scroll that is sealed until Pthe ti2e of the end.P In the other case ?Rev .&=%"+-:@ 0e have a scroll that has been o ened in the end of ti2e. Even t$ou!$ it is used in different (ays in the t(o assa!es" t$e ver% 5to seal5 stren!t$ens t$e link bet0een the2" %ecause it is found in the immediate conte t of the oaths of t$e an!els. T$is evidence' and 2ore to come %elo(' points us in t$e direction of identifyin! the open scroll in the $and o, the an!el (it$ the scroll of the ro het $aniel that he 0as instructed to seal closed until 5t$e time of the end5 EDan .%=(@. 2..

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e S(earin! %y t$e Titles o, 0od After raisin! their hands both the an!el of $aniel .% and of Revelation .& be!in 0ith an identification of the God by 0ho2 they are s0earin! their oaths. 4here is a direct si2ilarity bet0een oaths at this oint. 4his can be de2onstrated by lacin! the initial arts of the oaths side by side= Daniel 6A;< and I heard hi2 s0ear by hi2 0ho lives for ever... Revelation 6M;6 and TheU s0ore by hi2 0ho lives for ever and ever" 0ho created heaven and 0hat is in it" the earth and 0hat is in it" and the sea and 0hat is in it"...

Both oaths be!in by identifyin! God as eternal" but in addition the oath in Revelation ackno0led!es God as Creator. 4hus" there is a direct relationshi here" but there is also an elaboration in the latter instance. 4he elaboration about the Creator has links to other assa!es in Revelation" 2ost notably the Creator hy2n in (=.. and the first an!elGs 2essa!e in .(=9. 4he link 0ith the for2er is 2ore the2atic in natureA the link 0ith the latter is 2ore directly le7ical. So2e co22entators have called attention to this art of the oath and its si!nificance. Iadd has observed" P4he an!el announces the i22inence of the end in the na2e of the eternal God" 0ho is also Creator and Iord of all creation. In other 0ords" the i22inent end 0ill occur because God is the eternal and soverei!n one 0ho ulti2ately rules and overrules all thin!s in His universe.P +& Caird" notin! the stress that is ut u on Creation" holds that the secret ur ose of God referred to ne7t involves !oin! back to the ori!inal Creation.+. Ford oints out that Pthere is an echo of the co22and2entsP ?E7od %&=..@ in the oath. +% 4his is an accurate observation" for the fourth co22and2ent does contain the sa2e three ele2ents of heaven" earth" and sea in the sa2e order. 4he 1ualifyin! hrase Pand all that in the2 isP is
+& Iadd" .((. 36 Caird' .%'. +% 1ord' .9&.

3$$

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e added only after the third ite2 in E7odus %&" but here in the an!elGs oath it is added after each of the three listed areas. 4b su22ariNe this art of the discussion of the oath t0o 2ain oints 2ay be 2ade= First" there is sufficient si2ilarity bet0een the initial arts of the oaths in $aniel .% and Revelation .& to indicate that they are directly related. Second" an e2 hasis has been added u on God as Creator in the oath of Revelation" and the lan!ua!e used in this e2 hasis co2es 2ost directly fro2 the fourth rece t of the 4en Co22and2ents.

T$e Mi!$ty An!ers Messa!e


Section Outline
I. Introduction ^. 8ro hetic 8rounce2ent About 4i2e ^W. 4he Bitters0eet Book I3. Historical Fulfill2ent 3. Conclusions
B

Introduction
PJallo0in! the identification of the God in 0hose na2e the oath is r% s0orn" the an!el of Revelation .& 2akes a state2ent about ti2e. In JL. older versions his 0ords are translated" Pthere should be ti2e no lon!erP ?FH3@A in 2ore recent versions it is translated" Pthere should be no 2ore delayP ?RS3@. In either translation it is evident that the an!elGs sole2n oath deals 0ith ti2e. In order to deter2ine the intent of this e7 ression it 0ill be necessary for us to e7a2ine its hraseolo!y fro2 a nu2ber of different oints of vie0= le7ical" conte7tual" arallels" and historico- ro hetic fulfill2ent. *&.

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

&rop$etic &ronouncement A%out Time De,inition and )se of Chronos ETimeH


4he 0ord translated Pti2eP in the FH3 and PdelayP in the RS3 is !hro-nos ?ti2e@. 4he idea that this occurrence ?@ !hronos should be translated PdelayP is found not only in so2e 2odern versions" but to a considerable e7tent in current co22entary literature. Iadd notes" for e7a2 le" PJhat the an!el announces is that there 0ill be no 2ore ti2e intervenin! before the co2in! of the end. 4he consu22ation 0ill be no lon!er delayedA the rayers of the saints are about to be ans0ered.P. Ba2house adds the idea that there 0ill be no 2ore delay until the blo0in! of the seventh tru2 et.% Given the ro2inence of this vie0 about the translation of !hronos, 0e 2ust ask ourselves 0hat is the 2ost accurate 0ay to treat itS A basic startin! oint for deter2inin! the translation o" !hronos should be!in 0ith its use in Revelation. Besides this occurrence in .&=9" !hronos is found in three other assa!es in Revelation. In %=%. it refers to the ti2e !iven to HeNebel to re ent. In 9=.. it refers to the additional ti2e the 2artyrs 0ere to rest under the fifth seal. In %&=* it refers to the little ti2e that Satan is !iven after he is loosed at the end of the 2illenniu2. In the latter t0o cases this 0ord for Pti2eP is 2odified by the 0ord mi.ros for Plittle.P In the five other instances in Revelation 0here the En!lish 0ord Pti2eP occurs" the translated Greek 0ord is .airos, not !hronos.B 4hus none of the instances 0here !hronos is used in Revelation su ly the idea of delay. 4o e2 loy that 2eanin! in .&=9 lacks su ort in the usa!e of the author and can only be seen as an arbitrary case of s ecial leadin!. An additional oint a!ainst that kind of translation 2ay be dra0n fro2 the 2anner in 0hich this 0ord functions in its o0n lan!ua!e. As Elliot ointed out lon! a!o"( the verb !hroni2o can 2ean Pto delay"P but the substantive !hronos is not used that 0ay. Fro2 these considerations it a ears that the 2ore o ular" recent translation and inter retation of this 0ord as PdelayP is not Lustified in .&=9. 4he older translation should be retained ?Pthere should be ti2e no lon!er"P FH3@.

6 0* EL Ladd'X` (ommentary o" the Revelation o" #ohn ?Grand Ra ids" .':.@" .((. % $. G. Barnhouse" Revelation, n E0pository (ommentary ?Grand Ra ids" .':.@" .;+ 2 Rev 6;2J ..=.;A .%=.%A .%=.(=%%=.& ( g. R. Elliott" Horae po!alypu!ae % ?Iondon" .;(9@" .%..

3$2

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

Conte tual Time Elements Je refer to ti2e ele2ents found in Revelation outside cha ter .&. 4hese are located or stated in such a 0ay as to rovide a kind of fra2e0ork for our state2ent about ti2e in Revelation .&. 4hree of these a ear. 6ne i22ediately recedes in cha ter '" and one follo0s in cha ter ... 4he third state2ent occurs in the fifth seal in cha ter 9. 4he connection in this latter case is 2ade by the the2e and lan!ua!e used. Revelation 6;66* 4his assa!e sy2bolically de icts a !rou of 2artyrs under the altar u on the o enin! of the fifth seal. 4hey have a burnin! 1uestion" and that 1uestion is" Ho0 lon! is the current state of affairs !oin! to continueS P& Soverei!n Iord" holy and true" ho0 lon! before thou 0ilt Lud!e and aven!e our blood on those 0ho d0ell u on the earthSP In ans0er to their 1uestion and a eal each one of the2 is !iven a 0hite robe and told to 0ait a little ti2e >!hronos5 until the nu2ber of their brethren is co2 lete. $iscussin! the state2ent 2ade about Pti2eP or PdelayP in cha ter .&" Barnhouse su!!ests that the ans0er to the 2artyrsG 1uestion" PHo0 lon!SP ?9=.&-..@ is !iven by the 2i!hty an!el ?l6,.,Iadd like0ise thinks that the state2ent 2ade in .&=9 indicates that Pthe rayers of the saints ?in 9=.&-..@ are about to be ans0ered.P9 A !ood case can be 2ade for this vie0 on le7ical !rounds. 4he 0ord used in both assa!es is !hronos. In 9=.. the saints are told to rest a little 2ore !hronosT, in .&=9 the an!el states that there shall be no 2ore !hronos. If these t0o state2ents are connected" then the first 0ould !ive so2ethin! of a ti2e fra2e for the second. 4he 2artyr scene occurs under the fifth seal" and a ears to refer to the !reat ersecution of the #iddle A!es. Accordin! to the historicist school of inter retation this era of ersecution closed by the end of the ei!hteenth century. 4he o enin! of the si7th seal that follo0s refers to the second co2in! of Christ and the si!ns that i22ediately recede it. 4he state2ent by the an!el in Revelation .& re!ardin! Pti2e"P therefore" should fall so2e0here bet0een these t0o oints ?the end of the #edieval ersecution and the Second Advent@ elaborated under the fifth and si7th seals. 5ote should be taken of 0hat the 2artyrs re1uest ?9=.&@. 4hey ask ho0
3 "am$ouse* .;*. 6 Ladd* .((. 3:3

4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

lon! it 0ill be before God Lud!es and aven!es their deaths. It is ossible that the Lud!in! and the aven!in! are one and the sa2e action. 4he other alternative is that they are successive. In this case the Lud!in! 0ould be Ludicial in character" 0hile the aven!in! 0ould be e7ecutive in character. A su!!estion in su ort of a t0o- hase se1uence 2ay be found at the end of verse .. 0here the rocess of 2akin! u the nu2ber of the saints is hinted. To 2ake u such a nu2ber 0ould re1uire so2e sort of decision2akin! rocess. 4hus the time referred to here ?that they should rest" literally" Pa little ti2eP@ 2ay be the time for the co22ence2ent and duration of the decision-2akin! rocess. Such a Lud!2ent ulti2ately 0ould result in aven!in! the blood of the saints and in usherin! the2 into GodGs eternal kin!do2. Revelation '=.+. If one is lookin! for state2ents about ti2e in the i22ediate conte7t of Revelation .& then the nearest recedin! 1uantified state2ent of that nature is found 0ith the ti2e ro hecy under the si7th tru2 et" in Revelation '=.+. Since the s ecified a2ount of ti2e referred to there is a lied to events under the si7th tru2 et" the an!el of Revelation .& could not have said that ti2eKliteral or ro heticKshould be no 2ore until after the conclusion of this ti2e eriod. 4his raises the 1uestion of the historical eriod to 0hich that ro hetic ti2e s an should be a lied. A nu2ber of Seventh-day Adventist co22entators have found in this ro hecy a descri tion of the attack of the 6tto2an 4urks u on Christendo2.G 4he details of these a lications cannot be e7 lored here" but suffice it to say that in !eneral the rinci le resent in these a lications see2s correct" the olitical o0er envisioned has been identified correctly. 4he ti2e eriod associated 0ith this ro hecy" ho0ever" does not yet a ear to have been understood correctly. A 2ore accurate assess2ent of it 2ay lend further su ort to the correctness of this overall inter retation. A lyin! the year-day rinci le; to the ti2e eriod found in Revelation '=.+ rovides *9& historical years for the ro hetic year ?co2 are Revelation ..=%-*A .%=9".( for the fact that a ro hetic year consists of *9&
: For re resentative vie0s on this subLect in Seventh-day Adventist co22entaiy literature" see /. S2ith" 4rophe!ies o" &aniel an$ the Revelation, rev. and ne0ly illustrated ?5ashville" .'((@" (':+.:A F. $. 5ichol" ed*' The S& Bible (ommentary : ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'+:@= :'%-'9. ; For a discussion of the year-day rinci le in the inter retation of a ocaly tic ti2e ro hecies see J. H. Shea" Sele!te$ Stu$ies on 4ropheti! Interpretation, $ARC6# Series" ed. Frank B. Hoi-brook" vol. . ?Jashin!ton" $C Biblical Research Institute" .';%@. +9-;;.

3$4

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

days@" *& 2ore historical years for the ro hetic 2onth" and one additional year for the ro hetic day in this ti2e state2ent. 4his !ives a total of *'. historical years to deal 0ith thus far. 4he 1uestion then is 0hat to do 0ith Pthe hourP 0ith 0hich this state2ent about ti2e be!ins. Since the 0ord for PhourP 2ay not be so s ecific in ter2s of historical fulfill2ent" else0here in Revelation" it need not be taken as art of the chronolo!ical e1uation here. 4hose other ti2e ele2ents brin! us to the ti2e or PhourP 0hen this ro hecy 0ould cul2inate. If one looks for the 2aLor event 0ith 0hich the assault of the 6tto2an 4urks on Christendo2 be!an" one surely 0ould look to the fall of Constantino le as the event 0hich 2arked the o enin! of the flood of 4urks on the continent of Euro e" and that flood eventually 0ashed ri!ht u to the !ates of 3ienna. 4he fall of Constantino le led to a distribution of 0ritten 0orks across Euro e that aided the Renaissance and the fall of that city 0as considered a land2ark event by Christians 0ho lived in Euro e at the ti2e. 4his occurred in .(+*. 4hree hundred ninety-one years fro2 that ti2e takes one to .;((. 4his 0as the year the Subli2e 8orte issued his edict of toleration rohibitin! citiNens of the 4urkish e2 ire to ersecute or kill Christians because of their faith. Since this 0as a ro hetic eriod durin! 0hich 2e2bers of 2ankind 0ere to be killed" the cessation of this ty e of activity ?by the o0er that had carried out that kind of activity reviously@ fits the s ecifications of this ro hecy very 0ell. 4he ti2e eriod also fits the nature of this event very 0ell" fro2 .(+* 0hen the killin! be!an at Constantino le until .;(("*'. years later" 0hen this ty e of killin! ca2e to be rohibited. 4he conclusion reinforces the i2 ression of the overall correctness of this inter retation of the ro hecy" both 0ith res ect to its a lication to the olitical o0er involved and 0ith re!ard to the accuracy of the ti2e eriod alloted to it to do the 0ork ascribed to it. All of this ca2e to an end on #arch %.".;((. 5ot until that oint could the an!el of Revelation .& say that there should be ti2e no lon!er" for the ro hetic and historical ti2e eriod of Revelation '=.+ 0as still runnin! until then. Anyti2e after the conclusion of this ro hetic ti2e eriod" ho0ever" it 0ould have been a ro riate for the an!el to have 2ade such a state2ent accordin! to this art of the chronolo!ical fra2e0ork 0hich surrounds the ro hecy of Revelation .&. In this case the 0ord !hronos used in .&=9 is also articularly a ro riate. If one 0ere to 2ention the days" 2onths" and years of '=.+ over a!ain ?in order to say that there 0ould be no 2ore of the2 hereafter@" it 0ould have led to a rather co2 le7 State-*&+

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

2ent Instead" all these ti2e ele2ents are subsu2ed under the headin! of !hronos, and it includes all of the2 collectively. Revelation 66;A-2''"66* 4he 2ain narrative of Revelation .. is aired 0ith that of Revelation .& to for2 the arenthetical 2aterial bet0een the resentations of the si7th and seventh tru2 ets. Because these t0o units are aired in this 2anner" 0e 2ay e7 ect so2e kind of relationshi bet0een the contents of their ro hecies and the 0ay they treat ro hetic ti2e. 4he ti2e eriods !iven in Revelation .. are s ecific. 4here is a lon! and a short eriod. 4he lon! ti2e eriod is !iven t0ice= as (% 2onths ?..=%@ and as .%9& days ?..=*@. 4he short ti2e eriod is !iven t0ice later in the cha ter as *.>% days ?..='"..@. 4he lon!er sy2bolic ti2e ele2ent is of 2ore i2 ortance to us because it obviously re resents a 2uch lon!er eriod of ti2e than the BVi days sy2bol. 6f central i2 ortance to this narrative and the lon!er ti2e ele2ent is the state of GodGs 0itnesses testifyin! in sackcloth. In ter2s of historical fulfill2ent this fits 0ell 0ith the $ark A!es durin! 0hich the truth of God 0as obscured in s iritual darkness 0hile the saints of God under0ent ersecution redicted also for the the sa2e .%9&-day eriod in the ne7t cha ter ?Rev .%=9" .(@. 4he year-day rinci le a lied to this ti2e s an rovides a eriod of .%9& years for this era of s iritual darkness and ersecution. 4his fits 0ell 0ith the historical 2arkers that have been ro osed to de2arcate this eriod= e7tendin! fro2 the 2id-si7th century to the late ei!hteenth century" or +*; to .:'; in 2ore s ecific chronolo!ical ter2s.' For our ur ose it does not really 2atter 0hether the *, days or years occur at the end of this ti2e s an or shortly thereafter. 4he net effect is the sa2e" na2ely" that the t0o ti2e eriods of Revelation .. co2e to an end by the be!innin! of the nineteenth century. Revelation .. thus rovides a 2arker be"ore whi!h the an!el of Revelation .& could not have s0orn his oath that Pthere should be ti2e no lon!erP ?FH3@. 4he ti2e eriods of Revelation .. 0ere still runnin! on the ro hetic clock. 6nly at so2e oint after they had finished could the an!el truly s0are to his announce2ent.

7 1or sample resentations o, the dates o, 32=-6<7= for t$e .%9& day.year eriod of ersecution in prop$ecy' see t$e 0orks referred to in n. ++A The S"' Bible (ommentary (=;**-*(A and /. Smit$' .(*-(+"+**-*("++..+;.

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4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

&arallel Time Daniel 6A* Co2 arisons have been dra0n bet0een $aniel .% and Revelation .& at various oints in the recedin! discussion. Je co2e no0 to one 2ore co2 arison= their 2utual interest in Pti2e.P For e7a2 le" the an!el of $aniel .% s0ears that Pthe shatterin! of the o0er of the holy eo leP 0ould co2e to an end after Pa ti2e" t0o ti2es" and half a ti2eP ?$an .%=:" RS3@. 6n the other hand the an!el of Revelation .& s0ears that ti2e should be no lon!er. Since so 2any other as ects of these narratives corres ond" it is only natural to e7 ect that these ti2e ele2ents are related in so2e 0ay. 4he relationshi has been noted by a nu2ber of co22entators. A2on! older 0orks" #. Habershon 0rote in .;(." 5It 0ould no0 e7 ress 2y o0n conviction that the assertion here brou!ht for0ard relates to the sa2e thin!" the only difference bein! that the one e7 resses this eriod of .%9& years as future" Git shall be for a ti2e" ti2es" and an halfA 0hile the other e7 resses it as astKBti2e shall be no lon!er.GP In .;+( g S. $es reN noted" PBoth redictions relate to the sa2e ti2eA t$e one is but the echo of the other.P .. In .;;( 8. J. Grant 0rote" P4he oath" too' is 1uite of the sa2e natureKnay" as already su!!ested" it is the very sa2e oath" only referrin! in one case to the 0hole ti2e of anti-Christian o ression" ... and referrin! in the other to the close of the sa2e sad eriod.P.% CarkeGs co22entary is 2ore tentative= P4his is very si2ilar to the descri tion of the an!el. Revelation .&=+"6' and in the seventh verse there see2s to be a reference to this ro hecy" Ga ti2e and ti2es" and a half.GP 4his relationshi has also been noted by 2ore recent co22entaries. In his 0ork ublished in .'(& #. Fiddle 0rote" Pin reality the an!el is s eakin! of recisely the sa2e eriod as that 2entioned in $aniel.P .( Jhile 2ode2 co22entators continue to note the relationshi bet0een these t0o state2ents about ti2e" they have" in so2e cases" turned the relationshi around. 4hey ar!ue that the announce2ent in Revelation .& indicates that the *.>% ti2es of $anielGs ersecution is to be!in" not end. Caird e7 resses this vie0= PHohn believed that the ro hecy of $aniel"
.& Q. Habershon" n Histori!al E0position o" the 4rophe!ies o" the Revelation ?Iondon" .;(.@" %&;. .. &* S* DespreF' The po!atypse Rul"ille$ ?Iondon" .;+(@" %%9. .% 8. J. Grant" The &eve%ation o" #ohn ELondon* .;;'@" %9:. 62 A* dar#e' P4he +oly "i%le'5 (ommentary an$ (riti!al Notes, Revelation ?Re rint" 5ashville" 672=H' 9.;. .( M- Diddle' The &eve%ation of St. John ?Iondon" .'(&@" .:%-:*.

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4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

alon! 0ith other 6ld 4esta2ent ro hecies" 0as about to have a ne0 and richer fulfil2ent. 4he three and a half years 0ere about to start...A and he inter reted the last sentence of the an!elGs 0ords to $aniel to 2ean that 0ith the destruction of the ersecutor the se!ret purpose o" 'o$ will have been a!!omplishe$ TauthorGs e2 hasosU. 4he ersecution of the church is thus the secret 0ea on by 0hich God intends to 0in his victory over the churchGs ersecutors and to achieve his ur ose of rede2 tion. It is also the content of the little s!roll.P.+ 4he older vie0 oint" that uts the announce2ent of the an!el of Revelation .& at the en$ of the ti2e eriod announced by the an!el of $aniel .%" a ears to be su erior to the 2odern vie0 that 0ould invert these relationshi s. 4he 2ore recent vie0 is based in art u on the a lication of $anielGs ro hecy to the ti2e of Antiochus E i hanes ?second century B.C@. 4hus the use of this ti2e eriod in Revelation beco2es a rea lication" not the ori!inal intent of the ro hecy. In the historicist vie0" ho0ever" $anielGs ro hecy looks farther do0n in ti2e than Lust the second century B.C. Indeed" it e7tends into the Christian Era 0hen this ersecution 0as to take lace. 4he a lication of the year-day rinci le to this ti2e eriod indicates that an announce2ent about it in Revelation should refer to its conclusion rather than its co22ence2ent. 4he sa2e oint is borne out by the conte7t in Revelation .&. 4he oath e7 ressed there 0as to find its fulfill2ent in the ti2e 0hen the seventh an!el 0as !oin! to sound his tru2 et" clearly an end-ti2e event. 4hus" the conclusion of older historicist co22entators see2s 2ore sound on this oint than does the 2odern critical a roach. 4hese co22entators" 0hether they have 0ritten in the nineteenth or t0entieth centuries" have 2ade a direct connection bet0een the end of ti2e in Revelation .&=9 and the BFi< ti2es in $aniel .%=:. Jhile this !eneral conclusion is undoubtedly correct" there is one fla0 in 2akin! the a lication so s ecific. 4his fla0 has arisen fro2 a failure to !ive attention to the s ecific Greek0ord e2 loyed. In the Se tua!int of $aniel .%=: ?the thirdsecond century B.C. Greek translation of the Hebre0 Bible" co22only desi!nated as the IDD@ the 0ord used for *i>N Pti2esP is .airos, 0hereas the 0ord used in Revelation .&=9 is !hronos. En!lish Bibles do not brin! out the distinction that is resent in these Greek ter2s. 4his is one instance in 0hich 0e can be 1uite sure that a distinction
15 G. B. Caird! The Revelation of St? 5ohn the Divine QReEXorit, 1.66]! 1!T"! ,

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T$e #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

0as intended by the author. 4his is evidenced by the fact that the identical ti2e eriod" dra0n fro2 $aniel .%=:" a ears in Revelation .%=.( and e2 loys the sa2e 0ord .airos as found in the IDD of $aniel. It see2s clear" therefore" that Hohn intended to use a different 0ord in Revelation .&=9 than he used in .%=.( or the IDD used in $aniel .%=:. But Hohn still used a 0ord that referred to ti2e >!hronos5. Jhy should this distinction be resent in the te7tS An ans0er to this 1uestion 2ay be inferred fro2 other data in $aniel .%. Follo0in! the oath about the Bli< ti2es" the an!el takes u the subLect of the abo2ination of desolation. Its duration" he said" 0ould last .%'& days ?vs. ..@. And he continues by ronouncin! a blessin! on those 0ho 0ill co2e to the .**+ days ?vs. .%@. 4hus" at the end of $aniel .% t0o additional ti2e eriods are 2entioned by the sa2e an!el. In the latter instances" ho0ever" the ti2e eriods are !iven in different unitsA instead of Pti2es"P the unit e2 loyed is Pdays.P If the an!el of Revelation .& had intended to refer only to the Blt< ti2es of $aniel .%=:" he should have used the 0ord .airos. But $aniel .% contains t0o lon!er ro hetic ti2e eriods in addition to the *, .airoi. 4o acco22odate these other references to ti2e ?!iven in PdaysP@" a different 0ord fro2 .airos 0ould have to be used. Jhile .airos could refer to only one of the three ti2e eriods in $aniel .%" !hronos fits 0ell as an overarchin! ter2" coverin! both the ti2e units !iven in .airos and those !iven in Pdays.P 4hus" the distinctiveness for !hronos in Revelation .&=9 is that it functions to incor orate the three ti2e eriods of $aniel .% into its fra2e of reference. Since the an!elGs oath ?.&=9@ a ears to include the three ti2e ro hecies in $aniel .%" so2e attention should be !iven to their historical fulfill2ent. 4he *,% ti2es ?vs. :@ refers to the sa2e era as !iven in $aniel :=%+. Both assa!es 2et their fulfill2ent in the ersecution that e7tended throu!h the $ark A!esKfro2 +*; to .:';..9 4he Pabo2ination of desolationP ?vs. ..@ 0as set u by the sa2e o0er carryin! out that ersecution ?cf. $an ..=*. and ;=..-.%@. Since the do2inion of that o0er 0as to co2e to a te2 orary end at the ti2e the ersecution 0as over ?:=%+@" so also in this arallel ro hecy ?.%=..@ the 2anifestation of the abo2ination of desolation 0ould end at the sa2e ti2e as the ersecution. 4his is but another 0ay to say that the B%< ti2es or .%9& days should end to!ether 0ith the .%'& days" both in .:';. Fi!urin! back66 Sec n. '. above.

3$.

4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e 0ards" not for0ard" 2eans that the 2anifestation of its o0er be!an in +&;. 4he final ti2e eriod of $aniel .%" the .**+ days" is !iven in the sa2e ty e of ti2e unit as the i22ediately recedin! .%'& days. It is reasonable" therefore" to assu2e that both run to!ether. 4his 2eans the .**+ days e7tend (+ day-years beyond the end of the .%'& day-years in .:';" or to .;(*. It should be noted here that 0e are dealin! 0ith historical events in 0estern Euro e that are 2easured off by the Ro2an Hulian-Gre!orian calendar that be!ins each year in Hanuary and ends in $ece2ber. 4he ti2e ro hecies of $aniel ; and '" ho0ever" have been fi!ured accordin! to the He0ish fall-to-fall calendar because that 0as the calendar functionin! in the lace and ti2e 0hen these ti2e eriods be!an ?5eh .=.A %=.@. Jhen 0e co2e to the .**+th day-year of $aniel .%=.%" therefore" its Hanuaryto-$ece2ber year in .;(* overla ed 0ith the %*&& th day-year of $aniel ;=.( that e7tended fro2 the fall of .;(* to the fall of .;((. For ractical ur oses" therefore" 0e 2ay say that the .**+ days take us to the sa2e year of .;(( as does the ro hetic ti2e eriod of $aniel ;=.(. 4his s eech of the !lorious an!el in $aniel .% su lies three ti2e eriods= the *,% ti2es" the .%'& days" and the .**+ days. Historically" these end res ectively in .:';" .:';" and .;((. 6ur reference to !hronos ti2e a ears to take into account all three of these ro hecies" not Lust the first of the2. 4his 2eans that the an!elGs state2ent in Revelation .&Kthat Pthere should be ti2e no lon!erP?FH3@Kcould not have been ronounced until the third and last of the three eriods had been co2 leted. 4his took lace in .;((. Any ti2e after that" this state2ent could have been s oken. Daniel S=.(. 4here is no direct le7ical connection bet0een Revelation .& and $aniel ;=.(" but there 2ay 0ell be a the2atic connection bet0een the2. 4hat connection has to do 0ith the ti2e units in $aniel ;=.(" the %*&& evenin!-2ornin!s ?days@. Jhat is an evenin!-2ornin!S 4he successive use of this kind of hraseolo!y for the days of creation in Genesis . indicates that a %(-hour day 0as intended" an e7 ression of only chronolo!ical si!nificance. #ay there be so2e theolo!ical si!nificance to the use of evenin!-2ornin!s in $aniel ;=.(S $aniel ; is above all a ro hecy about the sanctuary. A stru!!le over the sanctuary takes lace bet0een the 8rince of the host and the little horn. Hebre0 0ords for sanctuary occurs three ti2es in this narrative ?vss. .." .*" .(@. 4he 0ord tami$ ?daily" continual@ found in this assa!e ?vss. It-.*@ occurs *& ti2es else0here in the 64 connected 0ith the sanctuary. 4he t0o an!els of ;=.* are called Pholy ones"P a rare ter2 for an!els in the 64A but here these Pholy onesP are referred to in the settin! of the Pholy *.&

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

laceP or Psanctuary.P 4he ra2 and the !oat used as sy2bols at the be!innin! of the cha ter 0ere also used as sacrificial ani2als at the sanctuary. 4hus" it is evident that $aniel ; is a thorou!h!oin! sanctuary ro hecy. It is in this li!ht that the Pevenin!-2ornin!sP of its ti2e ele2ent should be e7a2ined. 4here 0as a articular as ect of the sanctuary service that took lace evenin! and 2ornin!. In the evenin! the riest burned incense and li!hted the la2 sA in the 2ornin! he tri22ed the la2 s and burned incense a!ain. 4hese activities 0ere to be carried out Pevenin! to 2ornin! before the Iord continually Z"ami$% ?Iev %(=*@. 4hrou!h the use of +is illar of cloud and illar of fire" God Hi2self 2arked off Lust the ti2e 0hen these activities 0ere to be erfor2ed. 6ne chan!ed to the other at sunset and sunrise" thus 2arkin! the ti2e 0hen the riest 0as to carry out these activities in the tabernacle. 4his 0as the (ay the Iord led" !uided" and 0atched over His eo le and His sanctuary evenin! and 2ornin! for the (& years of their 0anderin! in the 0ilderness ?5u2'=.+"%.@. Given this s ecial sanctuary si!nificance for the evenin! and the 2o2in! se1uence" it 2ay be su!!ested that the evenin!s and the 2ornin!s in the ro hecy of $aniel ; take on added si!nificance. An evenin!-2o2in! is not Lust a %(-hour eriodKit is a Psanctuary day.P Returnin! to Revelation .&" 0e should note a!ain the sy2bolis2 of the dress and a earance of the 2i!hty an!el. 4he cloud 0ra ed around the an!el 0e have discussed above. It can be related to the cloud God 0ra ed around Hi2self 0hen He led the children of Israel in the 0ilderness. 4he feet of this 2i!hty an!el a eared like illars of fire. 4he illar of fire that is kno0n best in the Bible is the illar of fire 0hich led the children of Israel in the 0ilderness. 4hus" in ter2s of i2a!ery" the 2i!hty an!el of Revelation .& resents the t0o 2ain ele2ents that de2onstrated the resence of the God of Israel over His sanctuary and over His eo le= the illar of cloud and the illar of fire. 4hat sa2e illar of cloud and illar of fire is referred to indirectly in $aniel ;" if the evenin!-2ornin!s of verse .( are indeed sanctuary days. Since the an!el 0ho a ears in this 2anner is dealin! wthpropheti! time, and since this s ecific ele2ent of the sanctuary day is used in one articular ti2e ro hecy" a connection bet0een that lan!ua!e in $aniel ;=.( and this i2a!ery in Revelation .& can be su!!ested. Such a otential connection 0ith the ro hecy of $aniel ;=.( should also be taken into account 0hen one considers 0hat the 2i!hty an!el of Revelation .& 2eans 0hen he says that Pthere should be ti2e no lon!er.P *..

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e As understood by Seventh-day Adventists" those evenin!-2ornin!s e7tendedKin historical fulfill2entKfro2 (+: "*C* to A*D* .;((. 4hus" this line of ti2e ro hecy also resents the date of .;(( as the Luncture before 0hich the an!el could not have 2ade his state2ent about ti2e" but after 0hich he could Lustifiably have done so.

Intra-Oat$ Relations In t$e days o, t$e sevent$ trumpet an!el ?vs. :@. 4he 2i!hty an!elGs cry that Pthere should be ti2e no lon!erP ?FH3@ is es ecially related to the t0o state2ents that follo0 i22ediately ?the days of the seventh an!elA the finishin! of the 2ystery of God@. Both state2ents bear u on the 1uestion of ti2e" the first 2ore than the second. 4he 2ore direct ti2e state2ent occurs in the ne7t hrase that refers to the soundin! of the seventh an!elGs tru2 et. It is i2 ortant to translate this hrase recisely in order to deter2ine 0hat it says about ti2e. Iiterally" the hrase translates" Pbut in the days of the sound>voice of the seventh an!el" 0hen he is about to sound the tru2 et.P 4his ortion of the assa!e consists of a re ositional hrase follo0ed by a de endent 1ualifyin! clause. If 0e had only the re ositional hrase" 0e 2i!ht assu2e that the sound or voice >phon\s5 of the seventh an!el referred to the blo0in! of his tru2 et" Lust as the revious an!els ble0 their tru2 ets ?;=:-;" .&" .%A '=." .*@. 4he 1ualifyin! hrase" P0hen>0henever he is about to sound the tru2 et"GB ho0ever" indicates that this is rather a eriod of ti2e leadin! u to the actual blo0in! of the tru2 et. 4his distinction has been noted by various co22entators. Iadd" for e7a2 le" first translates this hrase by trans osin! the 1ualifyin! clause for0ard into the re ositional hrase= PIn the days of the tru2 et call to %e sounded by the seventh an!el".. "P .: He then roceeds to note the si!nificance of the verb meltM ?to be about to do so2ethin!@ and cites its use else0here in Revelation ?*=%A ;=.*A and .&=( in this sa2e assa!e@. In Revelation .&=( it refers to Hohn as he 0as about to 0rite do0n the 2essa!e of the seven thunders but 0as told not to do so. Iadd also calls attention to the ti2e unit ?in the days@ 0hich fits in 0ith the use of the verb Pto be about to.P P4his 0ill occur not 0hen the seventh an!el sounds" but Gin the daysG of the soundin! of the seventh tru2 et.P .; His conclusion about the i2 lications of these t0o facts fro2 the te7t is"
6< Ladd'6:6* 6= I%id** .(+.

*.%

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

P4he verse does not say" G0hen the tru2 et sounds"G but Bin the days of the tru2 et call.G 4his su!!ests clearly that the soundin! of the seventh tru2 et is not to be thou!ht of as a si2 le actA it e2bodies a eriod of ti2e.P .' Barnhouse notes the sa2e factor as o erative here= P4he voice of the seventh 2essen!er is heard for so2e considerable ti2e" Gin the days of the voice.G It is not a shar iercin! cry" but a lon!-dra0n-out Lud!2ent.P%& 4he icture described and alluded to in the lar!er assa!e of Revelation .& a ears to be as follo0s= 4he si7th an!el has blo0n his tru2 et ?'=.*@. Follo0in! his soundin!" the events that are to occur take lace in the ti2e fra2e allotted to the2. Jhen those days and events conclude" the ti2e is turned over to the seventh an!el" but he has not yet actually blo0n his tru2 etA he is only !ettin! ready to do so ?about to@. It is in this seventhtru2 et interval that the 2i!hty an!el of Revelation .& says that there should be ti2e no lon!er. Since historical ti2e continues" obviously the an!elGs reference is not to that kind of ti2e. So2e other kind of ti2e is involved. Further2ore" in this interval there is no calibrated sy2bolic or ro hetic ti2e like there 0as under the si7th tru2 et ?cf. '=.+@. 4hus" the 2i!hty an!el a ears to be declarin! under oath that all ro hetic ti2e eriods have ended. 4he events that occur 0hen the an!el does sound his tru2 et ?described in Revelation ..=.+-.;@ are events of !reat finality. Hu2an history co2es to an end" and the direct rule of God in His kin!do2 is established. 4he saints are re0arded" and the 0icked are destroyed. T$e mystery o, 0od* 4he final hrase of the three ele2ents that constitute the an!elGs oath has to do 0ith the co2 letion of the 2ystery of God. PBut that in the days of the tru2 et call to be sounded by the seventh an!el" the 2ystery of God" as he announced to his servants the ro hets" should be fulfilledP ?.&=:@. Since the ro hecies of $aniel have been in vie0 throu!hout this assa!e" it is natural that he should be considered one of those ro hets 0ho announced this 2ystery. $anielGs connection is noted by so2e co22entators. Caird observes" PIt 2i!ht a ear self-evident that this refers to the ro hecies of the 6ld 4esta2ent" and in articular $aniel.P %. Ford says that this kind of lan!ua!e has been used in $aniel= P4he Hebre0 0ord ra2, G2ystery"G is fre1uent in $aniel and the Cu2ran scrolls and refers ri2arily
.' Ibid. %& Ba2house" .;(. %. Caird. 6A7*

*.*

T$e #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e

to the secret of the ti2es" and the se1uence of events and the consu22ation.P%% A nu2ber of su!!estions have been 2ade about the recise nature of the 2ystery bein! discussed. Bousset su!!ests that it refers to the overthro0 of Satan. Jhile this ele2ent 2ay 0ell be included" it should not be li2ited to Lust that event. Another idea ro osed has been that this refers to the birth of the #essiah ?3ischer@. 4his see2s unlikely in vie0 of the end-ti2e focus of this ro hecy. A 2ore broadly based su!!estion is that t$e 5mystery5 involves everythin! about GodGs ur ose in the 0orld ?Charles@. 4he !eneral nature of this su!!estion 2akes it difficult to disa!ree 0ith. Iookin! at the conte7t in this oath" Caird has su!!ested that the 2ystery has to do 0ith !oin! back to the ori!inal creation. Iadd has dra0n u on arallels 0ith $aniel ?es ecially $aniel %=%'-*&" referrin! to God as a revealer of ro hetic 2ysteries@ to su!!est that another 2ystery of ro hecy is involved here. %( 4he 2ystery" ho0ever" a ears to deal 2ore 0ith the actual close of the lan of salvation than it does 0ith the announce2ent of further ro hetic 2ysteries leadin! u to that close. An alternative su!!estion about the nature of the 2ystery to be finished can be 2ade fro2 its conte7t in Revelation. 4he event i22ediately recedin! the reference to this 2ystery is the soundin! of the seventh tru2 et. Its 2ention for2s art of the sentence. 4hat bein! the case" it is reasonable to look at the events to occur under the seventh tru2 et ?Rev ..=.+-.;@ to deter2ine 0hat kind of 2ystery 0ill be PfulfilledP at that ti2e. 4he events are essentially threefold in nature. First" the soundin! of the seventh tru2 et discloses the full establish2ent of the rule of God and His eternal kin!do2 ?..=.+-.:@. 4his has been so2ethin! of a 2ystery u to the resent ti2e" because that kin!do2 is resently a s iritual one" not fully visible to the natural eye. Jhen the seventh tru2 et sounds" ho0ever" the real nature of GodGs eternal kin!do2 0ill beco2e fully a arent. Second" 0hen the seventh an!el sounds" it 2eans that the ti2e has co2e for the 0icked to 2eet their Lust re0ards ?..=.;@. 4his" too" has been so2ethin! of a 2ystery. For e7a2 le" the identification of the 0icked. In so2e cases this 2ay be readily a arentA but in other cases the distinction
%% H. #. Ford" Revelation, A"' *; ?Garden City" 5M" .':+@" .9*. %* Caird' .%'. %( Ladd'.(+.

*.(

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

is not yet clear to our eyes. 4hen" there is the 2atter that has uNNled 2en and 0o2en for a!es= Jhy do the 0icked ros er and the ri!hteous sufferS 5o0 the ans0er to the 1uestions 0ill be fully and finally revealed. 4hird" 0ith the soundin! of the seventh an!elGs tru2 et the ri!hteous 0ill receive their re0ard" es ecially their 0elco2e into GodGs eternal kin!do2 ?..=.;@. 4his has also been a 2ystery hidden fro2 hu2an eyes. But then it 0ill beco2e clear. 4hus" the soundin! of the seventh tru2 et ter2inates and ans0ers 1uestions about the lan of salvation that reviously have a eared to be 2ysteries. #uch of this kind of infor2ation see2s to revolve around the rule of GodGs eternal kin!do2. 4hree s ecific thin!s about it 0ill be revealed at that ti2e= the !reat divine Ruler of it" the citiNens 0ho 0ill inhabit it" and those 0ho 0ill be e7cluded fro2 it. 4hese articular s iritual secrets of the 2ystery of the lan of salvation 0ill be revealed clearly 0hen the seventh an!el sounds his tru2 et and Pthe kin!do2 of the 0orld has beco2e the kin!do2 of our Iord and of his ChristP ?..=.+@.%+ Summary on 5Time5 4he above discussion has centered u on the chronolo!ical relations of several ti2e state2ents to the an!elGs oath ?Pthere should be ti2e no lon!er"P .&=:" FH3@. 4hree different areas have been e7a2ined to deter2ine these relations= ?.@ the i22ediate conte7t of the ro hecy of Revelation .&" ?%@ the near conte7t of the book of Revelation" and ?*@ arallels fro2 $aniel. 4his in1uiry has roduced a total of seven chronolo!ical relationshi s for e7a2ination. If 0e look at these lines of ro hecy fro2 a historicist ers ective" (e see that t0o have rovided !eneral eriods of ti2e for consideration" but five have rovided s ecific ti2in!s to relate to this s0orn state2ent in Revelation .&. 4his infor2ation can no0 be su22ariNed as sho0n on the follo0in! a!e. It 2ay be seen fro2 the chart that these lines of ro hetic ti2e e7tend no farther than .;((. 5o other a ocaly tic ro hecies of s ecific a2ounts of sy2bolic ti2e are kno0n to reach beyond that oint. Conse1uently" it can be said correctly that in .;(( ro hetic sy2bolic ti2e ca2e to an end. 4hat the end of historical ti2e is not 2eant by the an!elGs oath is clear
%+ 4his vie0 is not ini2ical to the fact that the soundin! of the seventh trumpet sees also the ter2ination of Pthe 2ystery of the !os elP ?E h 9=.'@A hence" t$e close o, $uman robation. 4his is lain evidence that the tru2 et-series of events occurs in historical" robationary ti2e. KEd.

*.+

T$e #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e fro2 the contents of Revelation .& itself. 4he 2i!hty an!elGs announce2ent should thus be taken as dealin! 0ith sy2bolic ro hetic ti2e. Jith the kno0n lines of ro hetic ti2e conver!in! to conclude at .;((" that oint rovides the 2ost a ro riate occasion for this announce2ent of the an!el to be 2ade. 4he 2i!hty an!elGs oath is best taken then as an announce2ent of the end of sy2bolic a ocaly tic ti2e ro hecies in .;((.

C$ronolo!ical Relations o, 5No More N&rop$eticO Time ERev 6M;6H I. General A. As an ans0er to the 1uestion PHo0 lon!SP ?Rev 9=.&@. R. PIn the days 0hen the seventh 8oints to co2in! Lud!2ent and an!el is about to soundP ?Rev re0ards for the saints. .&=:@. In the interval bet0een the end of the si7th an!elGs tru2 et and the soundin! of the seventh. ^. S ecific A. After the .%9& days ?Rev ..=*@ R. After the day-2onth-year ?Rev '=.+@ C. After the .%'& Ended days ?$an .%=..@ . . $. After the .**+ days ?$an Ended .%=.%@ . . Ended .:'; .;(( .:';

Ended .;(( g. After the %*&& evenin!-2ornin!s ?$an ;=.(@ .... Ended .;((

T$e "itters(eet "oo#


Je no0 turn to e7a2ine the third and final section of the narrative ?vss. ;-..@. 4his section describes the ro hetGs e7 erience 0ith the little scroll. He is instructed to take the scroll fro2 the an!el and to eat it. 4he sy2bolic 2eal roved s0eet in his 2outh but bitter in his sto2ach. Follo0in! this e7 erience" he 0as told to ro hesy a!ain to 2any eo les" nations" and ton!ues. 4he ran!e of sy2bolis2 is considerable. Je 0ill e7a2ine its details by dividin! the assa!e into several sections. *.9

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e

Description o, t$e An!el 4he descri tion of the 2i!hty an!el is !iven a!ain" but 2ore briefly. #ounce calls this a Prhetorical device.P %9 It is e2 loyed to tie to!ether the o enin! and closin! sections of the narrative and to e2 hasiNe the links bet0een the an!el and the o en book in those t0o scenes. 4he an!el is described a!ain as standin! over land and sea" a si!n of the universality of his 2essa!e. 4his universality is co2 le2ented no0 in this third section by the directions !iven to Hohn to ro hesy a ne0 2essa!e to P2any eo les and nations and ton!ues and kin!sP ?vs. ..@. 4he o en book in the hand of the an!el is noted once a!ain. 4his ele2ent is central to the e7 erience of the ro het. 4he first voice heard co2es fro2 heaven and is robably the voice of God Hi2self s eakin! ?.&=;@. #ounce laces e2 hasis u on the si!nificance of the ori!in of the co22unication= P4hat the voice is a voice fro2 heaven e2 hasiNes the
f4e

authoritative nature of the co22and.PTime 1actor Barnes is one co22entator 0ho has stressed the ti2e factors involved in this section. At the outset he notes" P4he assa!e here ?ver. ;@ introduces a ne0 sy2bol" that of Geatin! the book> and evidently refers to so2ethin! that 0as to occur be"ore TauthorGs italicsU the G2ystery should be finishedGA that is" before the seventh tru2 et should sound.P%; In the conclusion to this section the ro het is instructed to ro hesy a!ain. 4his also involves a ti2e factor" as Barnes notes= P4he e7 ression here 2ust refer to so2ethin! that 0ould occur a"ter TauthorGs italicsU the sy2bolical action of Beatin!G the little book" or to so2e conse1uence of eatin! it... "P%' #ounce concurs" PIt is a"ter TauthorGs italicsU the eatin! of the book that Hohn is told he 2ust ro hesy a!ain... .P*& 4he chronolo!ical si!nificance of both activities described at the be!innin! and the end of this assa!e ?eatin!" ro hesyin!@ is that they both occur in the interval durin! 0hich the seventh an!el is !ettin! ready to sound his tru2 et.
A6 R* +* #ounce" The ook o" Revelation, NICNT' .: ?Grand Ra ids" .'::@" %.(. %: I%id'' %.*. A= A- "arnes' Notes on the ook o" Revelation ?Iondon" .;+%@" %9%. A7 I%id*' %9*. *& #ounce" %.9.

*.:

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e Consumin! t$e Little Scroll 4he ro het is instructed by the voice fro2 heaven to a roach the an!el and to take the little scroll fro2 his hand. In his visionary e7 erience the ro het does so. In res onse the an!el instructs hi2 to take and eat the scroll. 4his the ro het does also. In the vision the action no0 shifts to the ro het. / to this oint the ro het has been an observer. 5o0 he beco2es a artici ant. Before e7a2inin! the issue of the s0eetness and bitterness of the scroll" (e 2ay ask the 2ore !eneral 1uestion" Jhat does it 2ean to eat the scrollS Ba2es inter rets thus= P4he 2eanin! here" then" is lain. He 0as to ossess hi2self of the contents of the bookA to receive it into his 2indA as (e do food" for s iritual nourish2ent... .P*. But the consu2 tion of the little scroll is not Lust for internal assi2ilation" it is also for ublic rocla2ation. As Barnes uts it" P4he 2eanin! is" that" as a conse1uence of beco2in! ossessed of the little volu2e and its contents" he 0ould be called to roclai2 divine truth" or to 2ake the 2essa!e of 0od kno0n to 2ankind.P*% #ounce also e2 hasiNes both the assi2ilation and co22unication factors involved here= PT4hisU sy2boliNes the co2 lete a ro riation of ro hetic revelation. Hohn is to assi2ilate the content of the scroll before co22unicatin! it to others.P** 4he intention of the an!el in !ivin! the o en scroll to the ro het has been e2 hasiNed by Barnes= P And he said unto 2e" lake it"G as if he had e7 ected this a licationA or had co2e do0n to furnish hi2 0ith this little volu2e" and had antici ated that the re1uest 0ould be 2ade. 4here 0as no reluctance in !ivin! it u .P*( 4hus" the narrative conveys the i2 ression that the 2i!hty an!el 0as to co2e fro2 heaven at Lust the ti2e he did in order to !ive the o en scroll to the a!ent or a!ents ?0ho2 Hohn re resents@ 0ho 0ere to be involved 0ith it in this inti2ate 0ay.

S(eet and "itter Taste


4here are several biblical assa!es cited in the co22entaries as arallels to the ro hetic e7 erience of taste described here.*+ 8roverbs '=.:26 "arnes' %9*2A I%id* 22 #ounce" A6:* 2: "arnes' A62* 23 Bo% %&=.%-.(A &rov 7;6<-6=J &ss .'=.&A ..'=.&*A Her .+=.9A and EFeic %=;-*=*.

*.;

4he #i!hty An!el and4Es,iessa!e .; and Hob %&=.%-.( tell ho0 s0eet the evil deed is to the evil doer" but it turns to bitterness and death 0hen its effects are felt. 4he s0eetness of GodGs 0ord is e7tolled in both 8sal2s .'=.& and ..'=.&*. In the 2idst of his ro hetic bio!ra hy Here2iah e7clai2es" P4hy 0ords 0ere found" and I ate the2" and thy 0ords beca2e to 2e a Loy and the deli!ht of 2y heart.P 6f course" his e7 erience turned to bitterness 0hen he e7 erienced the reLection and ersecution of the eo le in brin!in! that 0ord to the2 ?cf. vss. .:-.;@. 4he 2ost direct and fre1uently cited arallel to that 0hich is described in Revelation .&" ho0ever" co2es fro2 ENekielGs si2ilar e7 erience 0ith a scroll ?ENek %=;-.&A *=.-(@. ENekiel heard a voice instructin! hi2 to eat 0hat 0as !iven hi2. 4hen he sa0 a hand e7tendin! a scroll to hi2. 4he scroll 0as s read out before hi2" and the ro het read 0ords of 2ournin! and la2entation" obviously re resentin! the fate that 0as !oin! to befall his eo le. 4hen ENekiel 0as told to eat the scroll and to !o and s eak to the house of Israel. He ate and the scroll tasted s0eet in his 2outh. 4his e7 erience of ENekiel rovides the 2ost direct biblical 2odel for 0hat is described in Revelation .&. Ho0ever" it falls short in one articular= the resultant bitterness in the belly. 5or do the e7 eriences of the 0icked described in Hob and 8roverbs rovide a co2 lete arallel either. 4hey have both ele2ents of s0eet and bitter" but these are the e7 eriences of the 0icked" not the ri!hteous as 0e encounter in Revelation .&. Even thou!h a different !rou is addressed here" these e7 eriences of the 0icked can rovide so2e sort of !eneral arallel. 4he real cru7 bet0een the s0eet and the bitter is that the deed itself ?0hich is s0eet@ does not rovide the antici ated results ?hence" causin! bitterness@. 4he sa2e 2ay be said of the ro het and the church he re resents in Revelation .&. 4he s0eetness of the 2essa!e of GodGs 0ord turns to bitterness 0hen the antici ated result does not 2aterialiNe. 4he s0eetness and bitterness have been vie0ed in several 0ays by the co22entators. For e7a2 le" Ford sees ENekielGs bitterness in the fact that Phe is told that Israel 0ill not listen to hi2.P *9 For #ounce" these fi!ures of s eech indicate that Pthe s0eet scroll 0hich turns the sto2ach bitter is a 2essa!e for the church. Before the final triu2 h believers are !oin! to ass throu!h a for2idable ordeal.P *: Fiddle takes a si2ilar vie0= PHohn" ho0ever" soon finds the scroll bitter
*9 Fori" .9(. *: Mounce' %.+.

*.'

4B #f!nty An!el and His #essa!e

to di!est. His 2essa!e is to the true Israel" the Christian church= and thou!h it ends 0ith the triu2 h of GodGs eo le" it s eaks also of a for2idable or deal 0hich 2ust recede their vindication. 4he ne0 bitters0eet kno0led!e he 2ust broadcast to the churches in all lands.P*; Ba2house co2es closer to the ro hetic character of Revelation .& 0hen he states" Pkno0led!e of the future is s0eet" but 0hat it holds is bitter. P*' So2e evaluation of these oints of vie0 should be !iven here. Jhile it is true that HohnGs e7 erience is a 2essa!e for the !hur!h of the Christian Era" it does not see2 Lustified to li2it this 2essa!e to Lust the church itself. At the end of the e isode the ro het is told to ro hesy again to 2any peoples, nations, tongues, and .ings. It see2s unlikely that these ele2ents are all Christian rior to the ti2e he is to ro hesy to the2. In like 2anner" the earlier ro hesyin! by the church ?alluded to by the 0ord Pa!ain"P vs. ..@ should also take in a si2ilar broad audience in its 2issionary thrust. 8art of the ro hetGs bitterness of sto2ach 2ay have co2e throu!h the inattentiveness of his audience" but it does not see2 0ise to li2it this fi!ure of s eech to that alone. And there is nothin! in this narrative itself to identify the bitterness 0ith ersecution. 4he ersecution described by Revelation .%=.:A .*=.*-.: a ears to be the final ersecution that should take u after the ro het has ro hesied a!ain to the nations. 4he s0eetness of this assa!e is not difficult to understand" but the bitterness is 2ore difficult to inter ret. 8arallels fro2 the be!innin! of the cha ter 2ay offer so2e assistance. At the be!innin! of the cha ter" after the 2i!hty an!el s oke for the first ti2e" seven thunders soundedA but their 2essa!e 0as sealed u ?vss. *-(@. It 0as su!!ested that these seven thunders 2ay have re resented seven final Lud!2ents before the end" and that their lace 2ay have been taken by the seven last la!ues. At the end of the cha ter the 2i!hty an!el is described a!ain" follo0ed no0 by the e7 erience of the ro het 0ith the scroll. 4he e7 erience is one of bitterness and disa oint2ent. Both ele2ents in the narrative a ear to be describin! si2ilar situations" but fro2 different oints of vie0. If the 2essa!e linked to the an!el descendin! 0ith the little scroll ?at the be!innin! of the cha ter@ 0as one of final Hud!2ent that did not co2e" then the disa oint2ent or bitterness that Hohn ?re resentin! the church@ e7 erienced ?at the end of the cha *; Fiddle" .:*. *' Ba2house" .'&.

32$

4he #i!hty An!el and +is #essa!e ter@ 2ay 0ell have co2e about throu!h the non-fulfill2ent of that 2essa!e of final Lud!2ent. 4he bitterness resented by the ro hecy see2s to derive fro2 an internal e7 erience" fro2 disa oint2ent 0ith an antici ated result" rather than fro2 e7ternal factors such as the nonacce tance of the 2essa!e by the audience" or ersecution of the ones !ivin! the 2essa!e.

5e0 Mission 4he lural verb legousin ?they say" arc sayin! Tto 2eU@at the be!innin! of verse .. has occasioned so2e co22ent Je 0ould ordinarily have e7ected a sin!ular verb here ?he says Tto 2eU@. Follo0in! Charles" Ibrd su!!ests that the function of this lural is to su ly an indefinite subLect. (& #ounce su!!ests that it 2ay function 0ith a assive 2eanin! here. (. Ho0ever" the voice of the 2i!hty an!el and the voice fro2 heaven could be s eakin! in concert here. 6r" the an!els 0ith the tru2 ets could be s eakin!. Another ossibility 0ould be the elders and the livin! creatures around the throne in heaven. 4his 2atter cannot be settled 0ith finalityA ho0ever" it does not bear directly u on the 2eanin! of the content of the 2essa!e to the ro het 4he ro het should be taken here" and reviously" as sy2boliNin! the hu2an bein!s 0ho 0ould 2ake u the 2ove2ent !ivin! this final 2essa!e. Hohn lived at the be!innin! of the Christian Era 0hen he received this vision. But the ro hetic scene itself looks do0n to0ard the end of ti2e" lon! after HohnBs death. He should" therefore" be taken as re resentative of those 0ho 0ill bear this final 2essa!e" the art he 0as actin! out under those circu2stances. It 0ould have been hysically i2 ossible for Hohn to have borne his 2essa!e to all of the !rou s he 0as told to address ?vs. ..@. Je 2ay look" therefore" for a !rou or 2ove2ent to fulfill this co22ission in the end-ti2e. The connection of this ro hecy 0ith the end-ti2e is e2 hasiNed by its connections 0ith the other end-ti2e ro hecies in Revelation throu!h the lan!ua!e it uses for the !rou s to be addressed ? eo les" nations" ton!ues" kin!s ?vs. ..U@. Charles has noted" Bis is interestin! that this enu2eration" 0hich occurs seven ti2es in the A ocaly se ... is here !iven a different for2" and basueusin ?kin!s@ is ut in the lace oiphi$ais ?tribes@. 4he kin!s are es ecially those 2entioned in D3II .&".%. I4ie Seer is recastin! this
(& 1ord' .9&. :6 Mounce* A66*

*%.

YZ[ PI/J\An/el2ntTMis Pessa/e

characteristic hrase 0ith a vie0 to the contents of his later visions. 4he e7tent to 0hich this 2essa!e is to be !iven is also e2 hasiNed by the termpollois ?2any@. As Ford notes" 64ollois, G2any"G refers to the vastness of the 2ission field" a lyin! not to one e2 ire alone" but to a 2ultitude of races and kin!do2s and cro0ned heads.GB(* Je should also co22ent briefly on the use of the verb Pto ro hesy.P So2e co22entators soften the force of this verb" construin! it to 2ean a 2ere s eakin! for God. Ho0ever" this narrative" as a 0hole" has been dealin! 0ith a ro hetic 2essa!e. Conse1uently" the resentation of a thorou!hly ro hetic 2essa!e to the 0orld a!ain 0ould fit best 0ith the 2eanin! of this verb here. I4ie 2i!hty an!elGs oath>2essa!e is based u on or related to the o en scroll in his hand. Since that scroll 2ay be identified as the ro hetic book of $aniel" a further reason is !iven here for seein! this final 2essa!e as truly ro hetic in character. #ounce has laced so2e stress u on the ro hetic nature of this final 2essa!e= PIt is the final act in the !reat dra2a of GodGs creative and rede2 tive activity. 4he 2eanin! of history co2es into shar focus at the end oint in ti2e. . . . His ro hecy is the cul2ination of all revious ro hecies in that it leads on to the final destruction of evil and the inau!uration of the eternal state.GB((

+istorical 1ul,illment
4i2e and s ace revent a thorou!h revie0 of the history of the interretation of this cha ter or a co2 lete recordin! of the historical details of the a lication 2ade here. So2e brief co22ents should be 2ade" ho0ever" on the basis of the e7e!etical insi!hts obtained fro2 our e7a2ination of the cha ter. 4he central thrust of the narrative is that a s ecial 2essa!e is to be brou!ht to the 0orld in the end-ti2e. 4his truth is re resented sy2bolically by a 2i!hty an!el co2in! do0n fro2 heaven to earth ?vs. .@. 4he 2essa!e is to be 0orld0ide in e7tent. 4his fact is re resented sy2bolically at the be!innin! of the cha ter ?vs. %@" and it is stated literally at its end ?vs. ..@. 4he s ecial 2essa!e for this ti2e is related to the o en scroll in the
(% R* +* C$arles' The Revelation o" St. #ohn, ICC' . ?Edinbur!h" .'%&@= A67* :2 1ord' 666* (( Mouoce' %.:.

322

4he #i!hty An!el and 4lis #essa!e

hand of the an!el. Fro2 the various arallels bet0een this cha ter and $aniel .% 0e 2ay conclude that the scrollKno0 o enedKis the sa2e scroll that the ro het $aniel 0as told to seal u " his o0n book of ro hecies. 4hus" in the end-ti2e a s ecial 2essa!e is to be !iven to the 0orld" and that 2essa!e is related directly to the ro hecies of the book of $aniel" to be o ened" studied" and roclai2ed. 4he an!elGs co22unication is seen to involve a 2essa!e of Lud!2ent. 4his is re resented by the seven thunders. Since else0here in Revelation thunders fro2 the throne of God acco2 any Lud!2ents" these thunders too 2ay be taken as re resentin! Lud!2ents. 4heir 2essa!e 0as" ho0ever" to be sealed u or te2 orarily 0ithdra0n. 4heir lace a ears to be taken by the seven last la!ues of Revelation .9" the ne7t se1uence of seven in the book" and a se1uence 0hich is connected 0ith final Lud!2ents. 4he resentation and i22ediate sealin! u of the seven thunders a ear to be a reli2inary announce2ent of Lud!2ent that is 0ithdra0n or deferred to a later ti2e" accordin! to this sy2bolis2. 4he second 2aLor oint 2ade in the 2essa!e of the 2i!hty an!el deals 0ith ro hetic ti2e. He announces 0ith a sole2n oath that Pthere should be ti2e no lon!er.P Fro2 the conte7t of this oath it is clear that historical ti2e is not bein! alluded to" because historical ti2e continues throu!h another series of ro hetic events. 4he ti2e 2ust" therefore" be ro hetic or sy2bolic a ocaly tic ti2e. It is this kind of ti2e that is found es ecially l the a ocaly tic ti2e ro hecies of $aniel and Revelation. 4hey 0ere to co2e to an end 0ith the oath of this an!el. 6ur study of the ti2e ro hecies" es ecially those that can be linked to Revelation .& directly or indirectly" leads to the identification of the year .;(( as the ter2ination oint for several of these ro hetic ti2e lines. 5o ti2e ro hecies in $aniel and Revelation e7tend beyond that oint. 4his chronolo!ical Luncture rovides the a ro riate location for the announce2ent of the 2i!hty an!el to be 2ade about the cessation of ro hetic ti2e. 4his i2 ortant chronolo!ical Luncture in the 2iddle of the narrative for2s a ivot around 0hich the events ro hesied in the other arts of the narrative cluster. 4his a lies to the ost oned Lud!2ent announced at the be!innin! of the cha terA it a lies to the e7 erience of the bitter disa oint2ent follo0in! the 2iddle of the cha terA and it a lies to the ne0 ro hecy to be !iven at the end of the cha ter. In the assa!e dealin! 0ith the ro hetGs s0eet and bitter e7 erience" Hohn ?re resentin! end-ti2e Christians@ first tastes the s0eetness of the 2essa!e derived fro2 the scroll of $aniel 0hen it 0as studied" absorbed"
323

T$e #i!hfyAh!e4 and +is #ess a!e

and roclai2ed. But after the initial s0eetness" tasted by those e7 eriencin! the Loy and ho e they found in those ro hecies" their e7 erience turned to bitterness 0hen the antici ated fulfill2ent 0as not realiNed. 4he central chronolo!ical Luncture of this cha ter also resents a ti2e fra2e in 0hich to look for the historical occurrence of this e7 erience. $urin! the course of Christian church history in the nineteenth century" there develo ed a !reat e7 ectancy that the second co2in! of Christ and the end of the 0orld 0as at hand. In 5orth A2erica this 0as e2bodied es ecially in the #illerite 2ove2ent" roclai2in! the advent of Christ throu!h the .;*&s and .;(&s" until the bitter disa oint2ent of 6ctober" .;((. 4he #illerites based their convictions u on a careful study of the ro hecies of the no0-o ened book of $aniel. 6n that basis the #illerites correctly deter2ined that ro hetic ti2e 0ould co2e to an end in .;((" as s0orn in the oath of the 2i!hty an!el. S0eet as this 2essa!e 0as to the2" ho0ever" they incorrectly identified the event that 0ould occur at the end of those ro hetic ti2e eriods. As a result" they suffered a bitter disa oint2ent 0hen the s0eet ho e of their SaviourGs return failed to 2aterialiNe. 4he bitterness of this e7 erience 0as so !reat that conte2orary adherents of the 2ove2ent and their later s iritual heirs have referred to this turn of events as the Great $isa oint2ent. But the 2e2bers of this 2ove2ent ?re resented sy2bolically by the ro het@ 0ere not to re2ain in this crestfallen condition. 6n the contrary" they are to take u the challen!e of a ne0 call to ro hesy to the 0orld a!ain. Hesus 0ill still return and the lan of salvation 0ill still be co2 leted. 4hey live and ro hesy no0" throu!hout the 0orld after the end of all ti2e ro hecies" as the an!el had said. 4hey are to !ive this ne0 2essa!e in a ti2e 0hen the seventh an!el is co2in! closer and closer to soundin! the final tru2 et sound. Jhen he finally does blo0 his tru2 et" their task 0ill have reached its fulfill2ent. 4here 0ill be no bitter taste of disa oint2ent this ti2e. 4his is indeed the task that the s iritual heirs of the #illerite 2ove2ent see bein! fulfilled in the 0ork and 2essa!e of their 0orld0ide 2ove2ent.

Conclusions
Revelation .& divides over the 0atershed state2ent about the end of ro hetic ti2e. 4he state2ent locates the ortrayal of the scenes of the vision into the fra2e0ork of the history of the church in the nineteenth and t0entieth centuries. 4he various as ects of the ro hecy can be out324

4he #i!hty An!el and His #essa!e lined in their successive order around the focal oint of the an!elGs oath about ro hetic ti2e in the follo0in! su22ary fashion= .. A ne0 2essa!e is to be !iven to the 0orldKre resented by the descent of the 2i!hty an!el 0ho stands on land and sea 0ith an o en book in his hand. %. 4he 2essa!e !iven is one of Lud!2ent" but that Lud!2ent 0ill be delayedKre resented by the seven thunders and the sealin! u of their 2essa!e. *. A sole2n oath is s0orn" that there should be no 2ore ? ro hetic@ ti2eKfulfilled by the lines of ti2e ro hecies 0hich conver!e u on .;((. (. An e7 erience of disa oint2ent 0ould occur at this ti2eKre resented by the bitter taste of the scroll 0hen the end of the 0orld did not occur.

+. A ro hetic 2essa!e is to be roclai2ed to all of the 0orld a!ain=


4he end of ro hetic ti2e is no0 understood. 4his reachin! takes lace in the Pti2e of the end.P 4he end of all thin!s is at hand. 4he seventh an!el 0ill soon sound his tru2 et" And then the kin!do2s of this 0orld 0ill beco2e the kin!do2 of our Iord and of +is ChristV AuthorGs trans.

325

C$apter /IV

Time &rop$ecies o, Daniel 6A and Revelation 6A-62


Jillia2 Q. Shea
Editorial Synopsis* As the reader 0ould sus ect" the reterisl>historical-critical school locates these ti2e eriods in the ast ?second century B.C. for $arnelA first century A &. for Revelation@. 4he futurist school roLects the sa2e to the end of the a!e. Both re!ard the eriods as e7 ressions of literal ti2e. 4he historidst school on the other hand acce ts these ti2e eriods as sy2bolic of lon!er s ans of years accordin! to the year-day rinci le and locates the2 in the flo0 of hu2an history at the oint indicated by the ro hecy. Seventh-day Adventists identify 0ith this latter 2ethod of ro hetic inter retation" the henneneutic of the 8rotestant Refor2ation. In recent years so2e historidsts have be!un to ar!ue that $aniel .%=+-.* 0ith its three ti2e eriods >Bl+< ti2esA .%'& daysA .**+ days@ is a free-standin! ro hecy ?or" at least subLect to a dual fulfill2ent@ focused on the end-ti2e. Su ort for this is alle!ed to be found in the ti2e eriod of Revelation .*=.-.&" in 0hich the (% 2onths of the leo ardlike beast is 2entioned subse1uent ?vs. +@ to the reference re!ardin! its 0oundin! ?vs. *@. Fro2 this it is inferred that the beast 0ill have another ersecutin! rei!n l the future" a rei!n of (% 2onths or .%9& literal days. Conse1uently" like classical futuris2" the ti2e eriods of $aniel .% and Revelation .* are construed to be eriods of literal ti2e that should be located in the last fe0 years of hu2an history. 4hese futurist ro osals rest essentially on a 2isunderstandin! of the thou!ht atterns of Hebre0 ro hecy. 4hey re resent a readin! of the Hebre0 idio2 throu!h Jestern eye!lasses. 4he result is that the conclusions dra0n are untrue to the intent of the res ective ro hecies. It is not the ur ose of the 0riter to !ive an e7 osition of these articular cha ters 0ith historical a lication. Rather" he ro oses to discover in each ro hecy the biblical indicators that oint to 0here these ti2e eriods 0ere intended to be located by the ins ired ro het. 4he evidence is clear in each case. 4he biblical data indicates that $aniel .%=+-.* is not a free-standin! ro hecy. 327

4i2e8ro hecies of$aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*


Its three ti2e eriods for2 the conclusion of $anielGs fourth vision 0ith .&=+-%. servin! as introduction and ..=.-.%=( as the body of the vision ro er. Further2ore" its *.>% ti2es and .%'& days are tied lin!uistically and subLect0ise to the body of the vision ?$an ..=*.-*+@. Bein! bound to the .%'& day assa!e" the .**+ day eriod like0ise has its startin! oint in the sa2e verses in the body of the vision. 4his 2eans that the three ti2e eriods of $aniel .% cannot be roLected to an end-of-thea!e fulfill2ent. 4hey are locked into the flo0 of hu2an history 0here $aniel ..=*.-*+ has laced the2Kthat is" in the ast" and to the eriod of the 2edieval a acy and its rule. 4he literary arran!e2ent of Revelation .%" 0ith its double reference to the .%9& year eriod" affir2s the sa2e location for this often-2entioned era. 4he or!aniNin! rinci le of the Revelation .*=.-.& vision is arallelis2 of thou!ht. 4his is a co22on idio2 in Hebre0 oetry that also s ills over into Hebre0 rose and ro hecy. 3erses .-( are the descri tive as ects of the vision that describe in terse hrases the rise and career of the beast" its 0oundin!" and inti2ates its future revival. 3erses +-.& resents the second 2e2ber of the thou!ht arallel. It is the e7 lanatory section and e7 lains the activities of the beast before its 0oundin!. 4he eriod of these s ecified activities ?(% 2onths or .%9& years@ is art of the e7 lanation. It infor2s the reader of the ti2e eriod durin! 0hich the beast 0ould carry out its ersecutin! and blas he2ous rule until its near-fatal 0oundin!. It then follo0s 0ith 2ore infor2ation on its revival. 4he biblical indicators are clear that .*=..& is one unit and s eaks about the sa2e eriod of ti2e as !iven in $aniel .% and Revelation .%. 4here is no evidence in the biblical data to su!!est that these ti2e eriods are to have a dual fulfill2entKone in the ast and one in the closin! days of hu2an history. Such a vie0 of the a ocaly tic visions of $aniel and Revelation is 0ithout scri tural su ort.

C$apter Outline
I* Introduction II. $aniel .% 2. Revelation .% I3. Revelation .* 3. Conclusion

32"

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

Introduction
40o doNen ti2e ro hecies found in the Bible are identified as belon!in! to the classical ro hets. E7 ositors a!ree that these should be inter reted as literal ti2e. About t0o doNen 2ore are found in the s ecialiNed ro hetic books classified as a ocaly tic= $aniel and Revelation. 4here are 2ore differences of o inion about inter retin! these ti2e ele2ents. Historicist inter reters" includin! Seventh-day Adventists" hold that these ti2e e7 ressions are sy2bolic and stand for lon!er eriods of actual historical ti2e. 6ther inter reters fro2 both the reterist and futurist schools believe they should be taken si2 ly as literal ti2e. Else0here I have discussed the nature of the a ocaly tic ti2e eriods and the year-for-a-day rinci le.. In this cha ter I ro ose to 2ake a conte7tual and content study of a fe0 a ocaly tic ti2e eriods to discover those features that 0ill indicate 0hen they should find fulfill2ent. 4his is not a historical study in de th. It is rather a te7tual study to see 0hat the te7t itself says about the a lication of these ro hecies in its o0n ter2s. 6bviously" the te7t should have so2ethin! to say about 0hich school of inter retation lines u 2ost closely 0ith its data. Same Time &eriod 6ne reason for selectin! these three assa!es ?$an .%A Rev .%-.*@ is that they have a nu2ber of ele2ents in co22on. All three assa!es describe the identical ti2e eriod. In $aniel .%=: it is !iven ?in Hebre0@ as *.>% ti2es. 4he sa2e hraseolo!y of*.>% ti2es a ears in Revelation .%=.( ?in Greek@. 4his in turn is aired 0ith the .%9& days of verse 9. Finally" Revelation .*=+ re eats this sa2e ti2e eriod a!ain" in this instance as (% 2onths. 4hus" a co22on nu2erical thread runs throu!h these three te7ts in that the *., ti2es e1uals (% 2onths and the (% 2onths e1uals .%9& days. Same Events 4hese assa!es not only refer to the sa2e ti2e eriod" but they also describe the sa2e events that occurred durin! that eriod. $aniel .%=: identifies this as a eriod for the Pshatterin!P of the o0er of the holy eo le. Revelation .%=9 and .( identify it as a ti2e 0hen the 0o2an" 0ho
. J. H. Shea" P4he Kear-Day 8rinci le-8art I"P in Sele!te$ Stu$ies on 4ropheti! Interpretation, DARCOM Series" vol. . E8as$in!ton* DC; Biblical Researc$ Institute" .';%@" +9-;;. 3!1

4une 8ro hecies of$aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* re resents the church" is forced to flee fro2 her ersecutor" the dra!on-beast 2otivated by the devil" and to hide in the 0ilderness. 4he final assa!e" in Revelation .*=+" identifies this eriod as a ti2e 0hen the beast o0er e7ercises its authority a!ainst the saints. 4hus" 0e have a co22on ti2e eriod in these assa!es ?.%9& days and e1uivalents@ and a co22on event= ersecution of the saints. 4here are" of course" other ele2ents in these assa!es. 4he features 2entioned above alon! 0ith these have been 2atters of dis uted inter retation. 4herefore a ne0 e7a2ination of the assa!es fro2 the stand oint of their conte7t and contents 2aybe hel ful in elicitin! a better understandin! to0ard their inter retation.

Daniel 6A
T$ree Time &eriods 4here are actually three ti2e eriods in this art of the ro hecy of $aniel. 3erse : 2entions the BFe< ti2es for the shatterin! of the o0er of the holy eo le. 3erse .. 2entions a eriod of .%'& days in connection 0ith the takin!a0ay of the PdailyP or PcontinualP and the settin! u of the abo2ination of desolation. And verse .% 2entions a eriod of .**+ days until a certain blessin! 0ill be besto0ed. All three ti2e ro hecies need to be studied here to!ether. Co22entators have taken note of these ti2e eriods" and their e7 lanations reflect the different schools of ro hetic inter retation. 4he reterist school re!ards these eriods as literal ti2e" referrin! to events in the rei!n ofAitiochus E i hanes ?second century B.C.@. Futurist inter reters construe these sa2e ti2e eriods to be related to the end of the a!e" still future lo our o0n ti2e no0 as this is bein! 0ritten. 4hey also see the2 as units oftiteral ti2e. Historicist inter reters on the other hand understand these ti2e units as sy2bols and" thus" standin! for lon!er eriods of actual historical ti2e. &reterist approac$es* ij illustrate the reterist a roach first" the standard co22entary of H. A. #ont!o2ery in the International (riti!al (ommentary series 2ay be cited. #ont!o2ery credits the !reat for2 critic Her2an Gunkel for the vie0 0hich he ado ts in his co22entary= GunkelGs su!!estion .... acce ted by Tother co22entatorsU" is here follo0ed" that the t0o 0. T.%=..".%U are successive !losses intended to rolon! the ter2 of .".+& days announced at ;=.(A that ter2 0as not fulfilled and these !losses" 0hich 2ust be very early" successively e7tend the
33$

Time &rop$ecies of$aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*


ti2e to ."%'& and ."**+ days. For the difficulties in the 0ay of assi2ilation of the three contradictory fi!ures one need only !lance at the labors of the
%

comm* at this point*

Several pro%lems 0ith t$is interpretation 2ay be noted at t$e outset* Mont!omery divides t$e A'2MM days o,Daniel ;=.( accordin! to an evenin! and a 2ornin! sacrificeA but t$is separation and division is not Lustifiable.* T$e fi!ures are not contradictory %ecause t$ey do not deal 0ith t$e same t$in!s; Verse : s eaks about t$e persecution o, t$e saintsJ verse 66 tal#s a%out the a%omination o, desolationJ and verse 6A emp$asiFes a positive feature" a blessin!. #ont!o2ery $imsel, notes t$e difficulties involved 0ith (or#in! (it$ these fi!ures in this (ay* A 2ore recent statement of t$is common vie0 is presented in t$e commentary on Daniel by E* +eaton; #any scholars ta#e t$e vie0 that t$ese t0o verses are successive !losses added 0hen the 5e0 A!e still tarried a,ter t$e e7 iry o, t$e .".+& days of =*6:* 4he ne0 datin! of v. .. K."%'& days K is the lon!est value ($ic$ can be !iven to t$e three and half years ,ound in v. : and :.%+. 4he further e7tension o, the period to .**+ days in v* .% leaves everybody !uessin!. 4hus" the standard inter retation of these three ti2e eriods in $aniel .% accordin! to the reterist school is that the seude i!ra hic author ?or a later redactor@ added these three ti2e eriods in succession in an a endi7 to the scroll 0hen the e7 ected events did not take lace. He had to kee len!thenin! the su osed ..+& days 0hen one after another of his redictions did not co2e to ass ?..+&-Bt .%9&-B .%'&-o.**+@. 4his inter retation obviously entails a very different vie0 fro2 that of Scri ture on the nature of revelation and ins iration. 4his is not true divine forekno0led!e revealed to the ro het. Rather" as a hu2an bein!" the P ro hetP si2 ly !uesses 0ron!. 4here is no divine aid. 4here are" of course" other vie0s of these ti2e eriods even 0ithin the reterist school. A. Iacoc1ue" for e7a2 le" takes these dates as the occasions u on 0hich successive editions of the book 0ere 2ade u and distributed.
% H. A. #ont!o2eiy" (riti!al an$E0egeti!al (ommentary on the Boo. o" &aniel, ICC ?Edinbur!h" .'%:@" (::. * S. H. Sch0antes" P lEreb.tw*er of $an ;=.( Re-e7a2ined"P ;SS .9 ?.':;@= *:+-;+. ( E. Heaton" &aniel, 4orch Bible 8a erbacks ?Iondon" .'+9@" %+&**.

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*


4herefore ."%'& days a three and half years lus one 2onth. It 2ay be that this e7tra 2onth re resents the eriod of co2 osition of the !reat vision in $an. .&-.%A ?d@ G."**+ daysG in $an .%..% addin! another 2onth and half to the recedin! fi!ure. Je 2ay see here the delay before the final ublication of the Book of $aniel in its entirety ? a t0o and a half 2onths after the urification of the 4e2 le on .% $ece2ber" .9(" or February .9*@.+

5ot all co22entators 0ithin the reterist school consider the idea of successive !losses e7tendin! the ti2e satisfactory. Hart2an and $i Ieila criticiNe this vie0 because the fi!ures do not fit the historical eriods that are kno0n=
4he trouble 0ith this theory is that accordin! to I #accabees" the 4e2 le 0as defiled on 9 $ece2ber .9: B.C. ?I #ace .=+(@" a eriod of three years and ei!ht days in the Hulian calendar" or a su2 of .".&* days -?*9+ *@ ; K so2e0hat less than the .".+& days redicted in ;=.(" and the three and a half years or ."%9& days.... In vie0 of these circu2stances" it see2s best to ad2it that 0hat the !lossators had in 2ind as ha enin! at the end of the ."%'& days in .%=.. and .**+ days in .%=.% si2 ly cannot be ascertained 0ith any confidence. 6nly !uesses are ossible.

1uturist a roaches. 4urnin! fro2 the confusion of the reterist co22entators" 0e note that futurist inter reters have an easier ti2e. Since they ut these events in the future ?none have occurred yet@" the inter reter has no historical data 0ith 0hich to test or falsify this theory. 5evertheless" there are disa!ree2ents a2on! the scholars of this school as to ho0 these ti2e eriods should be a lied and 0hat they 2ean. H. Jalvoord sees these additional ti2e eriods as referrin! to a little la! ti2e bet0een the Second Co2in! of Christ and the settin! u of His 2illennial kin!do2=
Althou!h $aniel does not e7 lain these varyin! durations" it is obvious that the second co2in! of Christ and the establish2ent of His 2illennial kin!do2 re1uires ti2e. 4he ."%9& day eriod or recisely forty-t0o 2onths of thirty days each" can be re!arded as cul2inatin! 0ith the second advent itself. 4his is follo0ed by several divine Lud!2ents such as the Lud!2ent of the nations ?#t %+=*.-(9@" and the re!atherin! and Lud!2ent of Israel ?ENe %&=*(-*;@. 4hese !reat Hud!2ents be!innin! 0ith the livin! on earth and ur!in! out of unbelievers 0ho have 0orshi ed the beast" althou!h handled 1uickly" 0ill re1uire ti2e. "y the ."**+ days" or seventy3 A* LacocIue' The ook of "anie% ?Atlanta" 67<7H' %+&. 6 L* &* +artman and A* A* Di Ieila" The ook of "anie%, A"' %* E0arden City" 5M" .':;@= *.*-.(" 33!

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*


five days after the second advent" these !reat Lud!2ents 0ill have been acco2 lished and the 2illennial kin!do2 for2ally launched. 4hose 0ho attain to this eriod are obviously those 0ho have been Lud!ed 0orthy to enter the kin!do2. Hence they are called Pblessed.P Ieon Jood follo0s the sa2e a roach in his futurist oriented co22entary on $aniel" but he is a bit 2ore s ecific about it. A clue as to ho0 they ?the e7tra *& days of the .%'&@ fit this 0eek ?of 4ribulation@ is found in #atthe0 %+=*.-(9" 0hich describes a ti2e of Lud!2ent by Christ i22ediately after He co2es in o0er to close this eriod. 4he ur ose of the Lud!2ent is to deter2ine those 0ho 0ill be er2itted to enter into and enLoy the blessedness of the 2illennial eriod. On the ."**+ days Jood observes" 4he thou!ht is thus su!!ested that it 0ill be the actual startin! oint of the #illenniu2. 4hose 0ho 0ill have assed the Lud!2ent of Christ" durin! the recedin! thirty days" 0ould be those 0ho 0ould attain to it" after these forty-five additional days. Jhat 0ill be the need of these forty-five daysS It 2ay be the ti2e necessary for settin! u the !overn2ental 2achinery for carryin! on the rule of Christ. 4he true and full border of Israel.. . 0ill have to be established" and a oint2ents 2ade of those abidin! in the !overn2ent. A eriod of forty-five days 0ould a!ain see2 to be reasonable in 0hich to acco2 lish these 2atters.

Havin! these *& and (+ day eriods e7tend beyon$ the second co2in! of Christ and intrudin! into or u to the 2illenniu2 see2s like an a0k0ard situation. It creates a kind of vacuu2 bet0een ChristGs co2in! and the be!innin! of the 2illenniu2" 0hen the t0o events should actually be si2ultaneous. +istoricist a roach. Historicist inter reters have treated the ti2e eriods in these verses as sy2bolic and have a lied the year-for-a-day rinci le to the2. 4his rovides lon!er eriods of actual historical ti2e= .%9&".%'&" and .**+ years. For an e7a2 le of ho0 these ti2e eriods have been inter reted by one co22entator" the 0ork of /. S2ith 2ay be cited. Smit$ identi,ies t$e ,irst period by statin!" 5t$e 6A6M years 2ark the period o, papal supremacy*5 Else($ere' in $is co22ent on $aniel :=%+" Smit$ e plains t$is period as e tendin! ,rom A*D* +*; to A*D* 6<7=* 51rom
: H. F. Jalvoord" "anie%0 The Ney to 4ropheti! Revelation ?Chica!o" .':.@" %'+-'9. = L* 8ood'-: (ommentary on &aniel ?Grand Ra ids" .':*@" *%;. ' Ibid. .& /. S2ith" The 4rophe!ies o" &aniel an$ Revelation, rev* ed. ?5ashville" .'((@" *%&. 333

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* this point T+*;" t$e e,,ective date of HustinianGs decreeU did the papacy hold supremacy for t(elve hundred and si7ty yearsC.E actly* 1or +*; 6A6M a 6<7=J and in the year .:'; "ert$ier' 0ith a 1renc$ army' entered Ro2e" proclaimed a repu%lic' too# t$e pope prisoner' and in,licted a deadly (ound upon the a acy.P.. Goin! on to the .%'& days S2ith notes" P4he t0o eriods" therefore" the .%'& and the .%9& days" ter2inate to!ether in .:';" the latter be!innin! in +*;" and the for2er in +&;" thirty years revious.P.% 4he ro- a al victory of Clovis of the Franks over the Arian 3isi!oth are then cited as the si!nificant event in +&;..* 4akin! up the 6223 days o, Daniel .%=.%" S2ith ne t calculates' PFro2 t$is oint t$ey (ould e tend to .;(*" ,or .**+ added to +&; ma#e .;(*.P.( Smit$ cites the Millerite revival of that time as the %lessed event that 0as to occur t$en; About t$e year .;(*" there 0as a !rand culmination of all the li!ht that $ad been shed on ro hetic su%Gects up to that time* 4he proclamation 0ent ,ort$ in o0er. T$e ne0 and stirrin! doctrine o, t$e settin! up o, t$e #in!dom o, 0od s$oo# t$e (orld* 5e0 li,e (as imparted to the true disciples of C$rist* T$e un%elievin! (ere condemned' t$e c$urc$es 0ere tested" and a spirit of revival (as a(a#ened ($ic$ $as $ad no parallel since*

Conte7tual Relationshi s Havin! canvassed these three oints of vie0 for their inter retations of the ti2e eriods in $aniel .%" 0e 2ay no0 address the conte7tual issue. 4his is es ecially !er2ane to the reterist oint of vie0" for reterist scholars treat this section ?.%=+-.%@ 0ith the dates as an a endi7" !losses added after the 2ain body of the ro hecy 0as 0ritten. Is this really the nature of $aniel .%=+-.%S Literary arran!ement o, t$e ,ourt$ vision* First" the overall structure of the entire vision should be noted. 4his se!2ent of the book covers $aniel .&-.%. 4hese three cha ters co2 rise one entire ro hecy. Basically" cha ter .& is the introductionA cha ter ..=.-.%=( is the body" the didactic ortion of GabrielGs ro hecyA and .%=+-.* is its conclusion.
.. Ibid." .(+. 6A I%id*' *%*-%(. .* Ibid." *%(-*%. .( Ibid." **.. .+ Ibid.

334

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* Is the conclusion ?.%=+-.*@ si2 ly an a endi7" so2ethin! in the nature of an afterthou!ht or an adLust2entS 6r is it an inte!ral art of the ro hecy as a 0holeS 4he for2er vie0 is the reterist ro osalA the later is the osition advocated here. Location o, time periods* 6ne 0ay to a roach the ti2e eriod assa!es in cha ter .% is to note the osition of their arallels in the other ro hecies of the book. For e7a2 le" $aniel : describes its vision in verses . to .(. 4he ti2e eriod ?for the activities of the little horn in the vision@ is then !iven in verse %+. 4he sa2e sort of heno2enon occurs in $aniel ;. 4he vision covers verses .-.%. At the end of verse .% the vision cuts off and there be!ins an audition. 4he ro het listens 0hile t0o an!els converse about 0hat has been sho0n to $aniel. It is in this audition that the dateline about the %*&& days is !iven. In other 0ords" the standard 2ethod in $aniel for resentin! ti2e eriods is first to resent the vision or ro hecy ro erA then the ti2e eriod is !iven. But the ti2e ele2ent is understood to relate directly to the rior descri tion of the vision. 4he sa2e 2odel can be a lied to the fourth vision recorded in$aniel .&-.%. In this case the ti2e eriods stated in cha ter .% ?the conclusion of the vision@ relate directly to the historical events described in cha ter .. ?the body of the vision@. 4his 0e 0ill de2onstrate lin!uistically later" but here 0e su22ariNe in chart for2 the relationshi ?in ter2s of location@ bet0een the vision ro er and its acco2 anyin! ti2e eriod?s@=
Chart .
$aniel : 3ision ro er 4i2e ele2ents vss. .-.( vs. %+ $anielS vss. .-.% vss. .*-.( $aniel .&-.% ..=.-.%=( .%=+-.*

4he e7ce tion to this rule is the ro hecy found in $aniel '=%(-%:. 4here robably is a reason for this e7ce tion. 4he nature of that ro hecy is different. $aniel :" ;" and .. are 0hat 0e 2ay call outline ro hecies" ro hecies that outline the rise and fall of nations and their rulers. $aniel % is also of this nature" but it does not contain any s ecific ti2e eriods. $aniel '=%(-%:" ho0ever" is a 2ore local and li2ited ro hecy.
335

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* Gabriel tells $aniel that this is a ro hecy for Pyour eo le and your holy city.P It is not an outline ro hecy" but one that Neroes in on the He0s and their ca ital of Herusale2 in Hudah. 4he ti2e eriod is !iven at the be!innin! and distributed throu!h the ro hecy. 4his is also another 0ay of de2onstratin! that the ro hecy of $aniel ' is linked to the recedin! one. 4he rior ro hecy ?$an ;@ ended 0ith a ti2e eriod" and this one be!ins 0ith one" thus sho0in! that the linked subLect of ti2e is bein! taken u a!ain. Ieavin! the uni1ue situation of $aniel ' aside" 0e 2ay say that the distribution of the ti2e eriods in $aniel .% fits the sa2e attern in relationshi to $aniel .." that 0e find in the case of the ro hecies and their ti2e ele2ents in $aniel : and ;. 4here are no literary structural !rounds for leavin! $aniel .% a art fro2 the 2ain body of the ro hecy as an a endi7 or series of !losses. 4aken in connection 0ith the other criticis2s of the reterist oint of vie0 2entioned above" this as ect of the reterist theory rests u on a very 0eak basis indeed. Ver%al lin#s* Je turn no0 to the 1uestion of s ecific and direct lin!uistic links in the conclusion of the vision ?.%=+-.*@ 0ith the body of the vision ?..=.-.%=(@. If the literary structural evidence 0eakens the reterist inter retation" it can be said that the lin!uistic links 0eaken the futurist inter retation. 4hese links leave no roo2 for the ti2e eriods of $aniel .% to be a lied after the standin! u of #ichael ?.%=.@. 6n the contrary" these eriods 2ust be a lied before that oint in the ro hecy. 4hus" they cannot be located in the interval bet0een the second co2in! of Christ and the be!innin! of the 2illenniu2. Je 0ill treat these ti2e eriods in order. 3. "anie% F<,P. 4he first one" consistin! of *,% ti2es" occurs in $aniel .%=:. 4his assa!e is ine7tricably intert0ined 0ith a s ecific assa!e and Luncture in the ro hecy of $aniel .. accordin! to the verbs and nouns used to e7 ress these ideas. 4he links for2ed in this 0ay are too ti!ht to be broken. Fro2 this one can conclude that $aniel .% cannot be severed fro2 $aniel ... See charts % and %a. It should be recalled that $aniel .%=: is an ans0er !iven to a 1uestion. 4he 1uestion obviously had to do 0ith the ro hecy $aniel had Lust received ?..=..%=(@. $aniel had asked" PHo0 lon! 0ill it be to the end of these 0ondersSP ?$an .%=9" RS3@. In ans0er to this the an!el res onded under oath" Pit 0ould be for a ti2e" t0o ti2es" and half a ti2eA and that 0hen the shatterin! of the o0er of the holy eo le co2es to an end" all these thin!s 0ould be acco2 lishedP ?vs. :@. 336

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* /nless this 1uestion and ans0er are co2 letely unrelated to 0hat Gabriel had been reviously tellin! the ro het" there should be so2e evidence in the body of the ro hecy as to 0hen this shatterin! of the o0er of the holy eo le occurred. Indeed there is. 4here is recisely one lace 0here the ersecution of the saints is described in the body of the ro hecy and that is in $aniel ..=*%-*+. Accordin! to the nature of the contents of the assa!e" uni1ue in all of $aniel .." this is 0here the ti2e eriod of $aniel .%=: should be a lied. 4he lin!uistic links bet0een $aniel ..=*%-*+ ?body@ and $aniel .%=:-.& ?conclusion@ de2onstratin! the directness of their connection" 2ay be outlined as follo0s=
3hart !

T$e 0reat &ersecution` $aniel .%=:-.&" 5I3 $aniel ..=*%-*+" 5I3


1. *V o0e v o a_e _iolated @+arSiSh t e co_enant* '_0. 32].

(. P#any 0ill be urified Hyitbwwu^%

%. P4hose 0ho are 0ise Zuma%.HS[ 0ill instruct 2any TyeXf2iUP?vs.**@. *. PSo2e of the 0ise ZhammaS.iltm^ 0ill stu2ble so that they 2ay be refined Zli"roe^,6 (. P urified Zule"wvr^6 +. P2ade s otless ZweyitAabbenu[6 I. Pand 2ade s otless Zweialben^Fm

*. Pand refined Zweyi"sarepu^6

?vs. .&@ .. Pbut the 0icked ZreSatm[ 0ill continue to be 0icked =. Puntil the ti2e of the endP ?vs. *+@. ZwehirSTuy %a. P5one of the 0icked ZreSa"m[ 0ill understand ZweVom yabtnu^,6
2{. *{ut t o0e v o are vi0e f-eha++aifdii+g vill under0tand >ya/inuhV '_0. 1$].
Y5ote= 4he cteusesdted occur 2 their n, cctive assa!es in the order in0hicfa they are nu2bered"

337

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* Si7 verbal arallels are docu2ented here. In $aniel ..=*%-*+ five of these ter2s are used once and one of the2 is used t0ice. In $aniel .%=:-.& four of these ter2s are used once and one is used t0ice and another is used three ti2es. 4here can be no doubt on the basis of these stron! lin!uistic links that these t0o assa!es are talkin! about the sa2e thin!. 4hus" the ti2e eriod of $aniel .%=: should be a lied to date the len!th of the ersecution described in $aniel ..=*%-*+. 4his is the lace in the body of the ro hecy 0here this ro hetic ti2e eriod belon!s. It does not.belon! to an era after the end of the ro hecy. Rather" it belon!s to the heart of the body of the ro hecy" ri!ht in its 2ainstrea2 throu!h ti2e and events. Chart %a su22ariNes these sa2e links and 2ay be hel ful for the reader unfa2iliar 0ith Hebre0. 5ote that 0hile the for2s 2ay vary in the t0o assa!es" these si7 verbal arallels are fro2 the sa2e roots.

C$artAa
Su22ary of Si7 Hebre0 8arallels for $aniel ..=*%-*+ and .%=:-.& Root l.mrS+ For2s $aniel ..=*%-*+ marS"e For2s $aniel .%=:-.& reSa+im wehirSm reSatm wehammas.i;m yabtnu welo+yabmu weyis"arepu yitbar$ru weyi"labbenu 4ranslation ?root idea@ Pact 0ickedlyP

<.m".l B.mbyn :.msrp I.mbrr =.mlbn

umas.ile hammas"alim yab"nu lisros, ulebarer welalben

Phave insi!htP PunderstandP PrefineP PcleanseP P2ake 0hiteP

>0 Daniel ?>@??0 }roJre00inJ ne~t to Daniel 12H11! ve o{0er_e t at t ere can {e no dou{t v ere t i0 time @eriod {elonJ0. 3t i0 connected 33"

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* directly 0ith $aniel ..=*.. 4he 2ore i2 ortant hrases fro2 these t0o assa!es can be cited side by side" and the 2ost i2 ortant verbal links in Hebre0 can be sho0n in transliteration. See chart *=

3hart 3

T$e A%omination o, Desolation


Daniel 11H31! N3V

PHis ar2ed forces 0ill rise u to desecrate the te2 le fortress and

$aniel .%=.." 5I3 PFro2 the tune that

1ill abolish A1ehesiniB the <%%]the daily sacrifice fhatta+idh i0 daily sa rifi e fhatfa+t:? Then <%%7abolished AhusarB daily sacrifice t eE -ill set up f-enatenug t e a/o+ination fhasSi77usg t at causes desolation f+eSo+e+g?4

#U
and t e a/o+ination fSi77usg t at causes desolation fSo+e+g is set up f-elaietg, t ere vill {e 1!2.$ daE0.*

4he sa2e sort of tabulation that 0e 2ade for $aniel .%=:-.& in conLunction 0ith $aniel ..=*%-*+ can no0 be asse2bled for $aniel .%=.. and $aniel ..=*.. 4here are five direct verbal arallels in Hebre0 bet0een these t0o assa!es. 4he 2ain difference bet0een these t0o assa!es is that $aniel ..=*. is 0ritten in the active voice and .%=.. is 0ritten in the assive. 4he for2er tells 0ho 0ould do the thin!s 2entioned" 0hile the latter e2 hasiNed 0hat 0as to be done. 4he lin!uistic links" nevertheless" are so stron! that there can be no doubt that the t0o assa!es are talkin! recisely about the sa2e thin!. 4his 2eans that the .%'& days su lied by $aniel .%=.. should be a lied to $aniel .. at that oint in 0hich the events described inverse *. occur. 4his ti2e eriod is definitely connected 0ith the ..=*. events. It cannot be laced later in the se1uence of the ro hecy or at so2e future ti2e beyond the end of the ro hecy. 4hese relations are tabulated in chart *a to sho0 the sa2e five roots that a ear in both assa!es.
33.

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* C$art 2a


Su22ary of Hebre0 8arallels for $aniel ..=*. and .%=..

Root .. mswr <. "ami$ B. mntn (. Si**u" I. mSmm

For2s $aniel ..=*. wehesiru hat"wni$ weriatenu haSSi**u" meSomem

For2s $aniel .%=.. husar hat"ami$, weta"et, Si**M" Somem

4ranslation ?root idea@ Pturn asideP PcontinualP P!iveP Pabo2inationP Pbe a alled" desolatedP

Je 2ay no0 su22ariNe the relations that have develo ed fro2 our co2 arison of these t0o sets of assa!es. Accordin! to their lin!uistic features it can be deter2ined that the Be3% ti2es of $aniel .%=: should be used to date the ersecution of $aniel ..=*%-*(. It is also evident that the .%'& days fro2 $aniel .%=.. should be used to date the takin! a0ay of the daily or continual and the settin! u of the abo2ination of desolation in $aniel ..=*.. 4hese are the locations in the flo0 of events in $aniel .. 0here these ti2e eriods should be located. 4he ti2e eriods do not belon! later in the ro hecy nor do they belon! after its end" as an afterthou!ht. 4hey are inti2ately tied and linked to the recedin! ro hecy at these oints. B. &aniel FF,:C. 6f s ecial i2 ortance in this connection is the reference to the Pti2e of the endP in $aniel ..=(&. In the book of $aniel the ti2e of the end is not the end of ti2e" as if it 0ere a oint in ti2e 0hen all thin!s co2e to their conclusion. 6n the contrary" the ti2e of the end in the book of $aniel is a eriod of ti2e ?cf. ;=.:A ..=*+A .%=(@. Events occur in that eriod of ti2e" and so2e of those events are described in $aniel ..=(&-(+. 5o0 the 1uestion arises. Jhat is the relationshi of the ti2e eriods in $aniel .% to Pthe ti2e of the endP ro hesied at the close of $aniel ... 4he ans0er has already been !iven above. They o!!ur be"ore it. 4hey are not ti2e eriods 0hich belon! in the ti2e of the end. 4hey do not 2easure off events 0hich occur in the ti2e of the end. 4hey occur before that era.
34$

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

Je kno0 this because the .%'& days of $aniel ..=*. and the .%9& days of $aniel ..=*%-*+ occur in this ro hecy be"ore the ti2e of the end a ears in $aniel ..=(&. 4his 2akes it i2 ossible to connect the .%9& and .%'& ti2e eriods 0ith anythin! that has to do 0ith the second co2in! of Christ and the be!innin! of the 2illenniu2" as has been advocated by futurist or dis ensationalist inter reters. 4his study is not a treat2ent of historical a lications in detail. It is rather a conte7tual and content study of the relations of these ti2e eriods in the te7t of $aniel .. and .%. Jhen that te7t is studied carefully it can be seen that the reterist inter retation does not fit 0ell. 4he historical a lications ro osed for these ti2e eriods do not fit our kno0led!e of their len!th of ti2e fro2 historical sources. $aniel .% is not a 2is!uided a endi7 0ith an ever-len!thenin! series of failed ro hecies. 5or do these events fit 0ell 0ith events follo0in! the second co2in! of Christ and recedin! the 2illenniu2 as futurist inter reters have held. Fro2 the oint in the ro hecy at 0hich they be!in accordin! to their lin!uistic connections they should recede" not follo0" the ti2e of the end. Fro2 intra-te7tual relations" therefore" the .%9& and .%'& days of $aniel .% do not belon! to the ti2e of Antiochus E i tianes back in the second century "*C*' as the reterists holdA nor do they belon! to the end of ti2e" as the futurists holdA but they are best connected 0ith the heart of the flo0 of history as found in $aniel ..=*. and ..=*%-*+ as the historicist vie0 u holds. $etailed historical a lications of this 2ust be reserved for another occasion and the historicist co22entaries that have already treated these ti2e eriods. :. &aniel F<,F<. 4he an!el says nothin! about the .**+ day eriod other than to ronounce a blessin! on the one 0ho P0aits and co2esP to the end of that eriod. It is not e7 lained 0hy such should be blessed. Iin!uistic arallels such as link the *,% ti2es and the .%'& days to definite locations in $aniel .. are unavailable. 6n the other hand no one ar!ues that the .**+ day eriod should be se arated fro2 the .%'& day eriod. All schools of inter retation a!ree at least on this 2uch= 4he three ti2e eriods of $aniel .% 2ust be studied to!ether. 4he obvious sense of verses ..-.% binds the .%'& and .**+ day eriods to!ether in a s ecial relationshi . Since it can be de2onstrated on lin!uistic !rounds that the .%'& day eriod is locked into the ti2e location for the events of $aniel ..=*." 0e can conclude that the .**+ day eriod be!ins at the sa2e ti2e 0ith the sa2e events. 4he historicist vie0 e7 ressed by /. S2ith that these eriods be!in in A.$. +&; and end in .:'; *(.

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

and .;(* res ectively fits 0ell here 0ith the biblical data. .9 As for the Pblessin!P at the end of the .**+ days in $aniel .%=.%" 0e 2ay look for a ocaly tic connections in another 1uarter. It is of interest to note that a blessin! is ronounced in the book of Revelation for a certain end-ti2e !rou . I refer to the blessin! ronounced u on those 0ho die in the Iord in connection 0ith the three an!elsG 2essa!es. 4he 2essa!es the2selves are found in Revelation .(=9-.% and the attendin! blessin! is found in verse .*. 4he second co2in! of Hesus is described ne7t in verse .(. Here then is a blessin! that co2es close to but recedes the co2in! of Hesus. It is ronounced in relation to the Lud!2ent that is heralded in Revelation .(=9. 4hat Lud!2ent should be identified by the ro hecies about the Lud!2ent in the heavenly court in $aniel :-;. 4he Lud!2ent is described in cha ter : and its ti2e ?.;((@ is announced in cha ter ;. It 0ould be natural and lo!ical for this blessin! found at the end of $aniel to find a connection 0ith that Lud!2ent" the conclusion of 0hich is also described earlier in $aniel .%=.-(. Fro2 these otential connections it 2ay be su!!ested that the blessin! ronounced in $aniel .%=.%" in connection 0ith a ro hetically dated Lud!2ent" is linked 0ith the blessin! that is ronounced in the book of Revelation after that Lud!2ent has be!un" but before it ends 0ith ChristGs co2in!. 4he su!!estion here then is that the blessin! of $aniel .%=.% can robably %e vie0ed as su le2entin! the blessin! of Revelation .(=.* in the 54 4he for2er blesses those rivile!ed to live to see the be!innin! of the final Lud!2ent in heaven" 0hich 0ill reconcile all thin!s. 4he latter blesses those believers 0ho 2ay die durin! the ti2e and reachin! of that Lud!2ent.

Revelation 6A
4he sa2e ro hetic ti2e eriod found in $aniel .%=: a ears t0ice in Revelation .%. In verse .( it a ears as *,% ti2esA in verse 9 it is e1uated to .%9& days. Its inter retation follo0s the sa2e atterns that 0e find in the literature on $aniel and Revelation !enerally. 8reterists locate the events of this cha ter and its ti2e eriods back in the first century of the Christian Era. Futurists" es ecially dis ensationalist futurists" lace this ti2e eriod
66 Sec n* 6:*

342

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* and the ersecution associated 0ith it at the end of the a!e" in the ti2e of a !reat tribulation occurrin! in the second half of the last seven years of earthGs history. Historicists on the other hand take this ro hecy as utiliNin! sy2bolic ti2e ?a.%9& years@ and a ly it to the !reat ersecution of the true church durin! the $ark A!es ?+*;-.:';@. 4he differences bet0een these a roaches can be noted by a fe0 co22ents fro2 inter reters. &reterist a roaches. In s eakin! of the ersecution described in Revelation .%" #ounce ste s back" as it 0ere" to deter2ine Pthe underlyin! cause for the hostility about to break u on the church.P .: He treats the subLect of ersecution in this cha ter rather !enerally" but inter rets verse 9 as follo0s= P4he 0o2an flees into the 0ilderness to be nourished there by God for .%9& days. 4he fli!ht of the 0o2an 2ay in art reflect the esca e of the 8alestinian church to 8ella at the outbreak of the He0ish 0ar in A.$. 99. GodGs children have often been in fli!ht.P.; H. #. Ford resents a si2ilar first century e2 hasis by inter retin! the 0o2an to be the co22unity of Christians in the first century" and a so2e0hat restricted co22unity at that= PIf the 0o2an is the faithful co22unity" such as one finds at Cu2ran" it is a co22unity 0hich lives" 0orks" rays" and fi!hts" in the co2 any of the !ood an!els 0hich 2ay even be included in the i2a!ery of the stars round her head.P.' She !eneraliNes in her co22ent on the ti2e unit. 4he 0o2an is nourished for *., ti2es or .%9& days" P erha s 2eanin! until the end of the ersecution.... It is a ti2e of trial 0hich co2es before the final co22ence2ent of the kin!do2 of God. It also re resents the o osite of eternity. But it 2ay" in addition" be a 2essianic nu2ber.P%& 1uturist a roach. At the other end of the scale 0e find the dis ensationalist inter reter H. F. Jalvoord. In this syste2 the 0o2an is not the church" but Israel" as she 0ill e7ist in the last days durin! the !reat tribulation. 4he ti2e ele2ent ?.%9& days@ is literal ti2e but the eriod occurs at the o osite end of the Christian A!e fro2 0here reterist inter reters 0ould locate it. Jalvoord ad2its the !reat !a that 2ust e7ist bet0een this end-ti2e a lication of the .%9& day eriod and the be!innin! of the a!e ?0ith Israel as the 2other of the #essiah@=

.: R. H- #ounce" The Boo. o" Revelation ?Grand Ra ids" .'::@" %*(. .; Ibid." %*'. .' H. #. Ford. Revelation, A"' *; ?Garden City" .':+@= %&&. %& Ibid." %&%.

343

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*


Attention is then directed" ho0ever" to the 2other of the child" a!ain re resented as Israel. Here she is seen in the ti2e of !reat tribulation as fleein! into the 0ilderness to a lace re ared of God 0here for ."%9& days she is cared for ?a!ain the e7act len!th of three and one-half years@. 4here is obviously a tre2endous ti2e la se bet0een verses + and 9" but this is not an unco22on occurrence in ro hecyA the first and second co2in!s of Christ are fre1uently s oken of in the sa2e sentence. Inas2uch as Israel is in co2 arative tran1uillity and safety in the first three and one-half years of $anielGs seventieth 0eek ?$an. '=%:@" the reference 2ust be to the reservation of a ortion of the nation Israel throu!h the !reat tribulation to a0ait the second co2in! of Christ.

A si2ilar co22ent and a lication is 2ade of the BFi% ti2es in verse .( since he considers the2 to deli2it the sa2e eriod of ersecution as 2entioned in verse 9. P4he ti2e ele2ent of IsraelGs sufferin! is described as Ga ti2e" and ti2es" and half a ti2e.G 4his a!ain see2s to be a reference to the three and one-half years" the 2ention of ti2e bein! one unit" the second reference to ti2es" bein! t0o units" 0hich the addition of one-half a ti2e 0ould 2ake three and one-half units. A arallel reference is found in $aniel :=%+ and .%=: referrin! to the sa2e eriod of !reat tribulation.P%% Idealist approac$* In contrast to the reterist 0ho uts this ti2e eriod X%n ti2esA .%9& days@ at the be!innin! of the a!e and the futurist 0ho uts the2 at the end of the a!e" there are those 0ho !eneraliNe the2 2ore than that. 4he idealist a lies the eriod to the Christian A!e in !eneral. 4he co22ents in 8. E. Hu!hes re resent this a roach= 4here" nourishe$Hsy God" she is enabled to survive for one thousan$ two hun$re$ an$ si0ty $ays, other0ise defined" in verse .( belo0" as Pa ti2e and ti2es and a half a ti2eP and" in .*=+" as Pforty-t0o 2onths"P that is" for a eriod of li2ited duration 0hich is short in co2 arison 0ith the li2itless eternity of eace and freedo2 that 0ill follo0 in the ne0 heaven and earth.... 4he sy2bolis2 in St. HohnGs vision de icts the history of the eo le of God for 0ho2 the 0ilderness is the 0orld in its fallenness and its hostility to the truth.%* Hu!hes follo0s this 0ith a si2ilar co22ent on the *., ti2es in verse .(. He states 2ore clearly that the ti2e ele2ents ?vss. 9".(@ si2 ly sy2boliNe the entire Christian Era=
A6 B* &* 8alvoord' The Revelation o" #esus Christ ?Chica!o" .'99@" .'.. %% I%id*' .'+. A2 &* E* +u!$es' The ook of &eve%ation ?Grand Ra ids. .''&@" .*:.

344

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* 4his eriod denotes three and a half years and is the sa2e as the ."%9& days in verse 9 and the forty-t0o 2onths in .*=+. It sy2boliNes the ti2e" li2ited by God" of the churchGs ersecution by Satan on earth" the ti2e" that is" bet0een the co2in!s of Christ.

+istoricist approac$* 4he historicist school" follo0in! the year-day rinci le" deli2its the .%9& years to a certain ortion of the Christian Era" not the era in its totality. 4he ortion of the Christian Era to 0hich this ro hetic ti2e eriod is a lied is that of the $ark A!es or #iddle A!es 0hen 2e2bers of the true church of God had to flee to 2ore re2ote laces because of the ersecutions launched a!ainst the2. Re resentative of this vie0 is the co22entary by /. S2ith" already cited above on $aniel ..-.%. S2ith states this osition clearly in his co22ent on Revelation .%=9K
4he church fled into the 0ilderness at the ti2e the a acy 0as fir2ly established in +*;" 0here it 0as nourished by the 0ord of God and the 2inistration of an!els durin! the lon!" dark" and bloody rule of that o0er for .%9& years.%+

+e reiterates this vie0 in his co22ent on Revelation .%=.(K


4he 2ention of the eriod durin! 0hich the 0o2an is nourished in the 0ilderness as Pa ti2e and ti2es and half a ti2e"P si2ilar hraseolo!y to that used in $aniel :=%+" furnishes a key for the e7 lanation of the latter assa!e. 4he sa2e eriod is called in Revelation .%=9" Pa thousand t0o hundred and threescore days.P 4his sho0s that a Pti2eP is one year" *9& daysA t0o Pti2es"P t0o years" or :%& daysA and Phalf a ti2e"P half a year" or .;& days" 2akin! in all .%9& days. 4hese days" bein! sy2bolic" si!nify .%9& literal years.

4hus" the attern that 0e find a2on! the e7 ositors is the sa2e as that (e encountered in the case of $aniel in the revious section of our study. 4he reterist inter reters ut these ro hetic ti2e eriods back in ti2es astA the futurist uts the2 still in the futureA and the historicist a lies the2 as e7tendin! throu!h history fro2 ast ti2es u to 2odern ti2es. 4he 1uestion is" Jhich of these vie0s does the te7t favorS Jhat ele2ents
%( Ibid." .(.. %+ S2ith" The 4rophe!ies o" &aniel an$ Revelation, ++*. %9 Ibid." ++;. 345

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

are there in the assa!e that lend su ort to one or the other of these inter retationsS 6ur study in this cha ter is on literary structure" conte7t" and contents to see in 0hat 0ay these as ects of the assa!es under e7a2ination address this 1uestion. So once 2ore 0e take u literary structure first. I 0ould say that it is an essential ele2ent in understandin! the te7t of Revelation .%. 6nce that structure is understood" the attern it resents lends stron! su ort to the historicist vie0 0hich sees this te7t and its ti2e eriods as e7tendin! throu!h the Christian Era. As a 2atter of fact" 0hen this as ect of the te7t is a reciated" it reveals 0hat a re2arkable assa!e this is" coverin! the era of the church fro2 the first advent of Christ to the final hase of the church before His second co2in! in a brief .: verses. I have treated the literary structure of Revelation .% in another revious study.%: Because of the relevance of that study for our resent enter rise" a si!nificant ortion of that essay is re eated here verbati2. 4his should !ive a clear icture of the literary structure resent in Revelation .%. T$e Literary Structure o, Revelation 6A Re!ardless of any difficulties in inter retation" the ro!ression of thou!ht in Revelation .% is strai!htfor0ard. As outlines in the co22entaries illustrate" the transitions bet0een that cha terGs 2ain thou!ht units or sections are relatively 0ell de2arcated. 4he narrative o ens 0ith a five-verse section de ictin! a conflict bet0een a !lorified 0o2an ?vss. .-%@Kco22only inter reted as the church ?or Israel as an earlier hase of the church@Kand the dra!on ?vss. *-(@K co22only inter reted as the devil and>or his earthly a!ent?s@. 4he articular oint of this conflict revolves around the 2an-child 0ho2 the 0o2an delivers. Since this 2an-child 0as cau!ht u to the throne of God and is to rule all nations 0ith a rod of iron ?vs. +@" he is co22onlyKthou!h not universallyKidentified by the co22entaries as re resentin! Hesus Christ. 4hus" 0e 2ay identify this initial five-verse section of cha ter .% as describin! the early hase of conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an. 4he ne7t verse in this narrative ?vs. 9@ should be seen as transitional to an inter2ediate section that deals further 0ith the conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an. 4his transitional verse indicates that havin! !iven birth to the 2an-child" the 0o2an" no0 2ore definitely identifiable 0ith
%: 8* +* S$ea' 5T$e 8arallel Literary Structure of Revelation .% and <CS+ ;SS %* ?.';+@= *:-+(.

346

Time 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

the church" found it necessary to flee into the 0ilderness for the ur ose of self- reservation. 4here she re2ained" rotected by God" for a s ecified eriod of ti2eK.%9& days. At this oint" the flo0 of the narrative dealin! 0ith the conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an is interru ted to include a arenthetical section ?vss. :-.%@ 0hich e7 lains the ori!in of the dra!onGs en2ity to0ard the 0o2an. 4his section of the narrative is in art descri tive ?vss. :-'@ and in art hy2nic ?vss. .&-.%@. 4he first ortion of this central section describes a conflict in heaven bet0een the dra!on ?Pthat ancient ser ent" 0ho is called the $evil and SatanP Tvs. 'U@ and his an!els 0ith #ichael" the leader of the an!els on GodGs side. #ichael and his host e2er!ed victorious" and the dra!on and his host 0ere cast do0n to earth. 4he second art of this central section celebrates the defeat of the dra!on and 0arns the inhabitants of earth of his en2ity. Several different inter retations have been !iven to this central section. So2e inter reters see it as a descri tion of a conflict in heaven in 0hich evil ori!inated rior to the creation of 2ankind. 6thers see it as a descri tion of the victory !ained by God over the devil at the ti2e of the incarnation of Christ. Still others see it as a descri tion of the victory !ained by God throu!h Chrisfs atone2ent on the cross. 6ur ur ose here is not to !ive a detailed e7e!esis or inter retation of this assa!e. It is rather to see 0here these verses fit in the literary structure of the cha ter. 4hat oint is clear" even thou!h co22entators 2ay differ in their inter retation of the te7t itself. 4hese verses rovide a central bloc of 2aterial in the cha terA and the 2ain flo0 of the narrative 0hich is 2ore directly concerned 0ith the conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an" resu2es follo0in! this e7cursus. 4he ne7t section of the narrative" verses .*-.9" returns" then" to the subLect of the 0o2an in the 0ilderness" under attack by the dra!on. In verse 9" 0hich 0e have noted above" it is 2ainly the actions of the 0o2an herself that are in vie0. 4hat subLect is no0 treated a!ain in verse .(. But verse .+ then continues 0ith the other as ect of the subLectKthe actions of the dra!on to0ard the 0o2an durin! her residence in the 0ilderness. He ursued her there and oured out a !reat flood u on her to s0ee her a0ay. 4he earth hel ed the 0o2an" ho0ever" and rendered the flood ineffectual ?vs. .9@. 4he len!th of ti2e that the 0o2an 0as resident in the 0ilderness is !iven a!ain" in this instance as Pa ti2e" and ti2es" and half a ti2eP ?vs. .(@" 0hich is e1uivalent to the .%9& days 2entioned earlier in verse 9.
347

4une 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* For literary structural ur oses" it is i2 ortant to note ho0 closely the contents of verse .( corres ond to those of verse 9= Revelation F<,= Revelation #,:#% PAnd the 0o2an fled into the 0ilderness" 0here she has a lace re ared by God" in 0hich to be nourished for one thousand t0o hundred and si7ty days.P
PBut the 0o2an 0as !iven the t0o 0in!s of the !reat ea!le that she 2i!ht fly fro2 the ser ent into the 0ilderness" to the lace 0here she is to be nourished" for Tthree and one-half ti2esU.P

A co2 arison of the Greek hraseolo!y found in these t0o verses indicates that the sa2e 0ords are used in the2 for Pinto the 0ildernessP and the P laceP to 0hich the 0o2an fled. 4he sa2e verbal root for PnourishP is used in different for2s in its t0o occurrences. Jhile the verbs Pto fleeP and Pto flyP are not the sa2e" they convey a si2ilar idea. Finally" both verses end 0ith a ti2e eriod" and those ti2e eriods should be e1uated. Fro2 these s ecific le7ical relationshi s" and also fro2 the !eneral the2atic relationshi s resent" it is evident that the content of these t0o verses 2akes a direct connection bet0een the2 and that in fact verse 9 and verses .*-.9 for2 an inclusio around the central section of verses :-.%. S ecifically" verse 9 rovides an initial state2ent about the fli!ht of the 0o2an into the 0ilderness" 0hile verses .*-.9 rovide an a2 lifyin! and concludin! state2ent on the sa2e subLect. 4hus" the co2 lete or overall state2ent about the inter2ediate eriod of conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an has been divided" and its t0o arts have been utiliNed to fra2e or enclose the central state2ent about the 0ar bet0een #ichael and the dra!on in heaven. 4he final verse of the cha ter" verse .:" refers to the third and final hase of conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an. In this case" at the end of the .%9& days" it is the re2nant of her seed or offs rin! 0ith 0hich the dra!on ai2s at 2akin! 0ar. 4he nature of this final conflict is s elled out in 2ore detail in the subse1uent t0o cha ters" 0hich contribute in 2akin! u the bloc of ro hecies in Revelation .%-.(. 4here is a certain the2atic link bet0een the be!innin! and the end of Revelation .%. Both deal 0ith the dra!onGs attack u on the 0o2anGs offs rin!. In the first case" it is her rinci al offs rin!" the 2an-child" that is
34"

4,2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

attackedA and in the latter case" it is the re2nant of her offs rin! that is his tar!et. Further2ore" the 2an-child at the be!innin! of the narrative should be inter reted as referrin! to Hesus" 0ith the re2nant at the end of the narrative bearin! testi2ony to Hesus. And finally" in verse +" the dra!on PstoodP before the 0o2an 0hen she 0as about to bear her child" and at t$e end of the narrative the dra!on PstoodP u on the sand of the sea. ?4he sa2e verbal root is resent in these t0o assa!es. So2e hold that this final state2ent should be connected 0ith Revelation .*" but this le7ical correlation su!!ests that it 2ay be correctly located at the end of Revelation .%.@ Fro2 this survey of Revelation .%" the contents of this cha ter can no0 %e reduced to a basic outline=
A. 3ss. .-+ K Early dra!on-0o2an conflict B.. 3s. 9 - Inter2ediate dra!on-0o2an conflict D. 3ss. :-.% - #ichael-dra!on conflict in heaven B%. 3ss. .*-.9 - Inter2ediate dra!on-0o2an conflict ?resu2ed@ C. 3s. .: K Final dra!on-0o2an conflict

0eneral historical a lications. Havin! outlined the assa!e in this 2anner" 0e 2ay 2ake so2e !eneral historical a lications. %& S ecific details need not be addressed here" but the broad s0ee of the cha ter can be !iven in overvie0. Sidin! 0ith the 2aLority of co22entators ?even so2e of those cited above@ 0ho see the 0o2an as the church" 0e can see ortrayed three hases of conflict involvin! the 0o2an or church. 4he first hase of conflict 0ith the devil ?vss. .-+@ should refer to the early be!innin!s of the church. 4he final conflict ?vs. .:@ should refer to the final hase of the church here on earth. Bet0een these t0o oles 0e encounter the church in the 0ilderness" the ersecuted church. Given the inter2ediate osition of this hase of the church in the narrative" this should be the church of the #iddle A!es" that is to say" the true or ure church of that eriod. 4he church that 0as ersecuted and driven into the 0ilderness and the 2ore re2ote ortions of the earth for rotection. 4hus" the cha terGs narrative resents us 0ith the early church" the ure church of the #iddle A!es" and the church of the last days. In one brief s an of .: verses the narrative has covered these three 2ain hases of church history. At the center of this anora2a" the cha ter fra2es the stru!!le bet0een Christ and Satan" the controversy that stands back of it all. 4he rin%; T$e ortion of my article 1uoted above co2es fro2 ibid-" *'.(%. 2:7

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* For literary structural ur oses" it is i2 ortant to note ho0 closely the contents of verse .( corres ond to those of verse 9=
Revelation #,:( *And t e voman Revelation #,:#%

fled into the 0ilderness" 0here she has a lace re ared by God" in 0hich to be nourished for one thousand t0o hundred and si7ty days.P

PBut the 0o2an 0as !iven the t0o 0in!s of the !reat ea!le that she 2i!ht fly fro2 the ser ent into the 0ilderness" to the lace ($ere s$e is to %e nouris$ed' ,or Nt$ree and one-half ti2esU.P

A co2 arison of the Greek hraseolo!y found in these t0o verses indicates that the sa2e 0ords are used in the2 for Pinto the 0ildernessP and the P laceP to 0hich the 0o2an fled. 4he sa2e verbal root for PnourishP is used in different for2s in its t0o occurrences. Jhile the verbs Pto fleeP and Pto flyP are not the sa2e" they convey a si2ilar idea. Finally" both verses end 0ith a ti2e eriod" and those ti2e eriods should be e1uated. Fro2 these s ecific le7ical relationshi s" and also fro2 the !eneral the2atic relationshi s resent" it is evident that the content of these t0o verses 2akes a direct connection bet0een the2 and that in fact verse 9 and verses .*-.9 for2 an inclusio around the central section of verses :-.%. S ecifically" verse 9 rovides an initial state2ent about the fli!ht of the 0o2an into the 0ilderness" 0hile verses .*-.9 rovide an a2 lifyin! and concludin! state2ent on the sa2e subLect. 4hus" the co2 lete or overall state2ent about the inter2ediate eriod of conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an has been divided" and its t0o arts have been utiliNed to fra2e or enclose the central state2ent about the 0ar bet0een #ichael and the dra!on in heaven. 4he final verse of the cha ter" verse .:" refers to the third and final hase of conflict bet0een the dra!on and the 0o2an. In this case" at the end of the .%9& days" it is the re2nant of her seed or offs rin! 0ith 0hich the dra!on ai2s at 2akin! 0ar. 4he nature of this final conflict is s elled out in 2ore detail in the subse1uent t0o cha ters" 0hich contribute in 2akin! u the bloc of ro hecies in Revelation .%-.(. 4here is a certain the2atic link bet0een the be!innin! and the end of Revelation .%. Both deal 0ith the dra!onGs attack u on the 0o2anGs offs rin!. In the first case" it is her rinci al offs rin!" the 2an-child" that is
34"

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

attackedA and in the latter case" it is the re2nant of her offs rin! that is his tar!et. Further2ore" the 2an-child at the be!innin! of the narrative should be inter reted as referrin! to Hesus" 0ith the re2nant at the end of the narrative bearin! testi2ony to Hesus. And finally" in verse +" the dra!on PstoodP before the 0o2an 0hen she 0as about to bear her child" and at the end of the narrative the dra!on PstoodP u on the sand of the sea. ?4he sa2e verbal root is resent in these t0o assa!es. So2e hold that this final state2ent should be connected 0ith Revelation .*" but this le7ical correlation su!!ests that it 2ay be correctly located at the end of Revelation .%.@ Fro2 this survey of Revelation .%" the contents of this cha ter can no0 be reduced to a basic outline= A. 3ss. .-+ K Early dra!on-0o2an conflict B.. Vs* 9 - Inter2ediate dra!on-0o2an conflict D. 3ss. :-.% - #ichael-dra!on conflict in heaven B%. 3ss. .*-.9 - Inter2ediate dra!on-0o2an conflict ?resu2ed@ C. 3s. .: K Final dra!on-0o2an conflict 0eneral historical a lications. Havin! outlined the assa!e in this 2anner" 0e 2ay 2ake so2e !eneral historical a lications.-P S ecific details need not be addressed here" but the broad s0ee of the cha ter can be !iven in overvie0. Sidin! 0ith the 2aLority of co22entators ?even so2e of those cited above@ 0ho see the 0o2an as the church" 0e can see ortrayed three hases of conflict involvin! the 0o2an or church. 4he first hase of conflict 0ith the devil ?vss. .-+@ should refer to the early be!innin!s of the church. 4he final conflict ?vs. .:@ should refer to the final hase of the church here on earth. Bet0een these t0o oles 0e encounter the church in the 0ilderness" the ersecuted church. Given the inter2ediate osition of this hase of the church in the narrative" this should be the church of the #iddle A!es" that is to say" the true or ure church of that eriod. 4he church that 0as ersecuted and driven into the 0ilderness and the 2ore re2ote ortions of the earth for rotection. 4hus" the cha terGs narrative resents us 0ith the early church" the ure church of the #iddle A!es" and the church of the last days. In one brief s an of .: verses the narrative has covered these three 2ain hases of church history. At the center of this anora2a" the cha ter fra2es the stru!!le bet0een Christ and Satan" the controversy that stands back of it all. 4he rin%; T$e ortion of ray article 1uoted above co2es fro2 i%id*' *'-(%.

34.

Gnone 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

ci le that has been 0orked out in these hases of church history is the anta!onis2 of the devil and his evil forces arrayed a!ainst the church. 4his is not a ne0 stru!!le. It be!an even before there 0as a church. By lacin! this scene at the center of his survey" Hohn" under ins iration" has identified the rinci le bein! 0orked out throu!h this era of church history. It is evident at once that the ro hecyGs s0ee of church history does not fit 0ell 0ith either the reterist or the futurist inter retation. If it su orted the reterist inter retation" it should have concentrated only u on the first hase of church history" in the eriod of the Ro2an E2 ire 0here reterists locate all of this. But its vie0 e7tends beyond that oint" 0ell beyond it. If it su orted the futurist vie0 of ro hecy" it should have concentrated only u on the final hase of church history. Instead" it starts 0ith the be!innin! of church history" 0hen the Christ of that church ca2e into the 0orld and then ascended to heaven to 2inister for it. 4he evidence is clear that this narrative resents a continuous historical flo0 throu!h the Christian EraA thus" it is 2ost co2 atible in its ers ective 0ith the historicist or continuous historical vie0. Location o, time periods* Je 2ay also ask the 1uestion" Jhere are the ti2e eriods located in this cha terS Are they found in the early" 2iddle" or end hase of the 0o2anGs il!ri2a!e on earthS If the ti2e eriods 0ere found in the first se!2ent" they 0ould favor the reterist osition. If they 0ere found in the final hase" they 0ould favor the futurist osition. But they are found in neither. Rather" the ti2e eriods are located in the 2iddle se!2ent of that church history. 4hey are found in connection 0ith the se!2ent 0hich e7tends throu!h the heart of the a!e. 4his is 2ost co2atible 0ith the historical vie0 of this ro hecy. In fact" these t0o co2bined and linked state2ents about ti2e ?vss. 9" .(@ !o to!ether to fra2e the central feature of the cha ter" the !reat con troversy in heaven. 4he 0riter !ives his first state2ent about ti2e in verse 9. He follo0s then 0ith a descri tion ?vss. :-.%@ of the 0ar in heaven bet0een #ichael and the dra!on. He then returns to the subLect of ti2e a!ain" restatin! in al2ost identical 0ords the sa2e eriod of ti2e reviously 2entioned ?vs. .(@. T$us' ,rom t$e standpoint o, lin#ed lin!uistics" and ,rom the standpoint o, literary structure' t$ese paired statements about ti2e belon! in t$e middle o, t$e narrative' in t$e 2iddle o, the history t$at the c$apter narrates' and t$us in t$e #iddle A!es of c$urc$ history. 4hey do not %elon!' eit$er o, t$em' do(n at t$e end o, ti2e. End-ti2e church history is not ta#en up until t$e last verse o, the cha ter ?vs. .:@.
35$

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

Revelation 13
Je co2e no0 to a third 2aLor state2ent of ro hetic ti2e si2ilar to that resented in $aniel ..-.% and Revelation .%. In those revious narratives the ti2e eriod 0as !iven as either .%9& days or *G>% ti2es. In this ne0 narrative it is !iven as (% 2onths ?.*=+@. 4here can be little doubt that 0e are talkin! about the sa2e ro hetic and historical eriod of ti2e" since (% 2onths" usin! a sche2atic ro hetic 2onth of a unifor2 nu2ber of *& days" rovides a eriod of ti2e that like0ise e1uals Bli< years or .%9& days. E positors9 Interpretations &reterist approac$* A!ain 0e find the sa2e distribution of inter retations that 0e encountered reviously in connection 0ith the other t0o assa!es studied above. 8reterists ut these events in the first century A-$." in the eriod of I2 erial Ro2e. As H. #. Ford lainly states" Pthe 2onsters re resent the Ro2an E2 ire and those 0ho coo erate 0ith her.P%' As for the (% 2onths of the authority of this beast" Ford relates it" by arallel" 0ith the ersecution of the He0s under Antiochus E i hanes. 4hus" it beco2es Psy2bolic of a eriod of terror and de2onic evil before the final victory of God.P*& In this articular case" it 2ay also be related to the desecration of the te2 le in Herusale2 by either Cali!ula or 4itus ?or both@. 1uturist approac$* $is ensationalists a!ree that this is the Ro2an E2 ire" but it is the revived Ro2an E2 ire at the end of ti2e" not the e2 ire of the days of Hesus and the a ostles. 4hus Jalvoord notes" P4he identity of this beast is 1uite clear in its reference to the revived Ro2an E2 ire" as the descri tion is si2ilar to that found in $aniel :=:-; and in Revelation .%=* and .:=*":. 4he sta!e of the e2 ire de icted by the beast is the eriod after the e2er!ence of the little horn" the future 0orld ruler" dis lacin! three of the horns ?$an :=;@. 4he descri tion fits the ti2e of the e2 ire durin! the !reat tribulation.P*% His osition on the (% 2onths is as to be e7 ected in connection 0ith this inter retation= PHis authority Tthat of the ersonal future antichristU continues for forty-t0o 2onths.P** +istoricist a roach. 4he historicist inter reters re2ain consistent here too. 4he beast is also identified as Ro2e in this school of thou!ht.
%' Ford" Revelation, %.;. *& Ibid." %%%. *. Ibid." %%*. *% Jalvooni" The Revelation o" #esus (hrist, .':-';. ** Ibid." %&&.

*+.

4une 8ro hecies oF$aniel W% and Revelation .%-.*

Because of the distinctly reli!ious as ects of its character and activities" ho0ever" it is identified as the reli!ious hase of the Ro2an activity" e ito2iNed in the a acy. In this case I2 erial Ro2e ?sy2boliNed in a secondary role by the red dra!on Tcha . .%U@" recedes the leo ardlike beast ?cha . .*@. 4he latter receives fro2 the for2er its P o0er" seat" and !reat authorityP ?vs. %@. As ut briefly by /. S2ith" PIn verse . of Revelation .* 0e are carried back to the ti2e 0hen the leo ard beast" the successor of the dra!on" be!ins his career. Fro2 this o0er the church suffers 0ar and ersecution for the lon! eriod of .%9& years.P *( 4his .%9& year eriod is" of course" the sa2e 0hich has been described above 0ith the revious ro hecies. 4he stance" then" of the three inter retive schools is as 0e have found the2 in the revious ro hecies. 8reterists see Revelation .*=.-.& at the be!innin! of the Christian Era" futurists at the end of the era" and histor-icists throu!h the course of the era" inter retin! the ti2e units here as sy2bolic rather than literal in nature. For a 2ore definitive identification of the beast o0er involved" the student naturally needs to 0ork throu!h its sy2bolic characteristics. 4his has already been done in the co22entaries and need not be re eated here. 6ur interest is 2ore localiNed to the ti2e ro hecy connected 0ith this beast. Jhere should this ti2e eriod be a liedS Locatin! t$e Time &eriod Jhy does this 1uestion co2e u S So2e inter reters" even so2e 0orkin! fro2 the historicist oint of vie0" su!!est that this ti2e eriod should be located a"ter the deadly 0ound is received by the beast rather than before. Iocatin! the ti2e eriod be"ore the deadly 0ound and leadin! u to it has been the 2ore co22on a roach a2on! historicist 0riters in ti2es ast. /. S2ith ut the relationshi this 0ay=
At the end of the sa2e eriod Tthe .%9& yearsU" the leo ard beast 0as hi2self to be led Pinto ca tivity.P Revelation .*=.&. Both these s ecifications 0ere fulfilled in the ca tivity and e7ile of the o e" and the te2 orary overthro0 of the a acy by France in .:';. 4hus it is evident that it 0as the a al head that 0as 0ounded to death" and 0hose deadly 0ound 0as healed. 4his 0oundin! is the sa2e
34 Smit ! The Prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, 562. 3G Ibid., G6G.

352

4une 8ro hecies of $aniel W% arid Revelation .%-.*


as the !oin! into ca tivity. ?Revelation .*=.&.@ It 0as inflicted 0hen the o e 0as taken risoner by Berthier" the French !eneral" and the a al !overn2ent 0as for a ti2e abolished" in .:';.

4he vie0 re resented by S2ithGs inter retation" seconded by 2any other historicist inter reters" is that the (% 2onths of the ro hecy" or .%9& actual historical years" led u to the deadly 0ound 0hich brou!ht an end to that eriod of a al do2ination and reli!ious authority. #ore recently" the o osite vie0 has been advocated= that the (% 2onths should follo0 so2e ti2e after the deadly 0ound. 4he basis for this inter retation is the order of the te7t. 4he deadly 0ound is referred to in verse * and the (% 2onths are referred to in verse +. Assu2in! that the events of this assa!e are in chronolo!ical order" the (% 2onths ti2e eriod should follo0 after the deadly 0oundin! of the beast. Repeated seIuences* 4his raises the 1uestion" Are the events described in this assa!e !iven in strict chronolo!ical orderS 4he evidence fro2 the assa!e itself indicates that is not the case. Follo0in! a strictly chronolo!ical order creates so2e difficulties in inter retation. For e7a2 le" verse . notes that the beast had a blas he2ous na2e u on its heads. 3erse + observes that the beast 0as !iven a 2outh utterin! blas he2ous 0ords. If these t0o e isodes are strictly chronolo!ical and consecutive" the blas he2y that the beast utters in verse + has no relation to the blas he2y u on its heads in verse .. 4he logi!al connection is" ho0ever" that the blas he2ous heads in verse . are of such a character that they utter the blas he2ous 0ords in verse +. 4he t0o references are connected by nature and actionA they should not be se arated 0ith one ut in the ast and the other in the future" 4his can also be noted in the case of the 0ord Pauthority.P 4his is found first in verse % 0here the dra!on !ives to the sea beast several thin!s includin! P!reat authority.P 4hen in verse + it is stated that the sea beast is allo0ed to e7ercise authority for (% 2onths. If 0e take the strictly chronolo!ical a roach" then 0e have t0o different authorities here. 4he 2ore lo!ical connection is that the authority !iven in verse % is the sa2e authority that is allo0ed to continue for (% 2onths accordin! to verse +. A si2ilar issue co2es u in the case of blas he2y bet0een verse + and verse 9. 3erse + says that the sea beast is !iven a 2outh utterin! blashe2ies. 4hen" at the end of that verse the (% 2onths of its authority are
26 I%id** +9:.

353

4i2e Fro Hecie, of $aniel .% arid Revelation .%-.*

2entioned. 3erse 9 be!ins by identifyin! 0hat is blas he2ed= the na2e of God" His sanctuary in heaven" and those of earth 0ho have laced their faith there. If these t0o verses are read in a strictly chronolo!ical order" then the blas he2y of verse 9 occurs (% 2onths or .%9& years later than the blas he2y s oken in verse +. But this is not really the case. 3erse . notes that the na2e of blas he2y 0as on the heads of the beastA verse + notes that the beast 0as !iven a 2outh utterin! those blas he2iesA and verse 9 !ives the content of so2e of those blas he2ies. 4hese are all conte2 oraneous and interrelated actionsA they are not se arate and distinct and occurrin! later in ti2e than the revious ones. 4he develo 2ent u on the the2e of a2 lifyin! the 2atter of blas he2y is su le2ented by each additional reference. 6nce a!ain the 2atter of 0orshi 2ay be taken to illustrate the sa2e ty e of heno2enon in this assa!e. 4he end of the first section of this assa!e describes 2en 0orshi in! the dra!on and the beast ?vs. (@. 4he second section of this assa!e ends in a si2ilar 0ay" 0ith all 0ho d0ell u on the earth 0orshi in! the beast ?vs. ;@. 4he t0o the2es are interrelated and occur in si2ilar ositions in their res ective assa!es. 4hey should be related to each other" not se arated. Je have described various as ects of this te7t to de2onstrate the 0ay in 0hich its ter2s have been distributed. Je have chosen key" the2atic" or theolo!ical ter2s in this assa!e. 4hey include Pblas he2y"P Pauthority"P and P0orshi .P 4he sa2e Greek 0ords are used in each of these cases 0here aired assa!es are e2 loyed. +e%re( parallelism* 4he 1uestion 2ay no0 be asked" Jhy does the assa!e o erate in this 2annerS Jhy does it co2e back to so2e of these the2es over and over a!ainS Jhy doesnGt it Lust treat each the2e once and then 2ove on to another in a linear fashionS 4he 2atter for study in this connection is a!ain one of literary structure. The organi2ing prin!iple is parallelism o" thought. 4his is very co22on in the Bible. 6ne third of the 64 is 0ritten in oetryA all Hebre0 oetry e7ercises arallelis2 of thou!ht. 6ne cannot have Hebre0 oetry 0ithout it. It also s ills over into biblical rose" both in the 64 and in the 54 E7a2 les of this are too nu2erous to 2ention. So it is not une7 ected to find that sa2e rinci le o eratin! here. It is i2 ortant" therefore" to note key 0ords 0hich are re eated in the assa!e. 6(o distinct sections* Je 0ill divide this ortion of the ro hecy into its t0o 2aLor sections before 0orkin! 0ith it in detail. 3erses .-( for2 the first sectionA verses +-.& for2 the second. 4he shift in the use of verbs be354

4une 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.*

t0een these t0o assa!es is one indicator that they are distinctA the nature of the contents described is also different. 4he first section describes 0hat Hohn sa0Kthe vision ro er. 4he second describes actions that took lace thereafter. 4he verb PI sa0P >ei$on5 occurs t0ice in the first section ?vss. .-%@A it does not occur at all in the second. Both sections close 0ith a verse that tells about the 0orshi of the 0orld to0ard the beast. 4his occurs in verse ( in the first section and in verse ; in the second section. 4hey are co2 ared further belo0. Jhile the first section in this assa!e is descri tive ?visual@ in e2 hasis" the second section is didactic in its e2 hasis. 4his arran!e2ent 2akes these t0o sections relate to each other as vision and audition" or vision and e7 lanation. Jhen this functional relationshi is understood" it can be seen that the second section e7 lains 0hat 0as seen in the first section. T$e vision9s description ?vss. .-(@. 4he descri tion of the beast in the first section be!ins 0ith its rise fro2 the sea. 4he first arts to a ear are its heads and horns. A further descri tion is !iven of these features= 4he horns have cro0ns and the heads have the na2e of blas he2y u on the2. 4he descri tion continues as the beast rises further out of the sea. Its body" 0hich looks like a leo ardGs" is seen ne7tA and its feet" 0hich are like a bearGs" are seen last. 4he attention of the ro het is then turned back to the 2outh of the beast. It 0as like the 2outh of a lion. 4he reason 0hy the ro hetGs attention is turned to the 2outh is because its s eech is an i2 ortant ele2ent in the subse1uent e7 lanatory section of the vision. 4he scene shifts no0 to describe 0hat the dra!on of cha ter .% did for this sea beast of cha ter .*. He !ave hi2 three thin!s= o0er" a throne" and !reat authority. HohnGs attention 0as then dra0n to one of the heads. Si7 of the seven heads looked healthy" but one of the2 had been 0ounded. Indeed" the 0ound looked so serious that it a eared to have been fatal. But the 0ound had no0 healed over and that head too 0as alive a!ain. 4he assa!e concludes 0ith state2ents on the 0orshi of the dra!on and beast by the 0orld. T$e visionGs e7 lanation ?vss. +-.&@. 4he second section is distinctive in ter2s of its verbal contents. It contains four hrases that start in e7actly the sa2e for2 in the ori!inal Greek" .ai e$othe aneo ?Pand there 0as !iven unto hi2 ...P@. 4he hrase occurs t0ice in verse + and t0ice in verse :. Each ti2e the hrase introduces so2ethin! that is !iven to the beast. 4he first P!ivenP is a 2outh s eakin! !reat thin!s and blas he2ies. 4he second is authority. 4he third thin! !iven is the ability to 2ake 0ar on the saints. 4he fourth P!ivenP is authority over the nations. 4hen the assa!e concludes" as did the first one" 0ith a state2ent of 0orshi by the 0orld.
355

4kaexR6 fiecieiroF4+a2eri%andGReveiation .%-.* It should be clear fro2 this sketch of the t0o sections that 0e encounter first the vision of the beast and ne7t the descri tion of its actions by 0ay of e7 lanation. Both sections end in the sa2e 0ay= 0ith the descri tion of 0orshi by the 0orld. 4his double descri tion of 0orshi not only serves to divide the assa!e" but also to e2 hasiNe the unity of the ro hecy. 4his brief outline 2ay be charted= C$art : Revelation 62;6-6M Two Sections $escri tion E planation _00. 5#7 vss. .-* Jorshi vs. ; 8ors$ip
_0. 4

Lin#s %et(een sections* Je turn no0 to e7a2ine the links bet0een the t0o sections" bet0een the descri tion and the e7 lanation. Je have already noted so2e of these in a ne!ative 0ay" to de2onstrate that 0e cannot follo0 a strictly chronolo!ical a roach to this assa!e. Je e7a2ine these relationshi s no0 accordin! to their intended functions. 4he first linkin! 0ord is P2outhP >stoma5, and its associated 0ord" Pblas he2yP >blasphemia5. 4he 2outh of the beast is described as the 2outh of a lion ?vs. %@. Jhen the 2outh !oes into o eration ?vs. +@" it s eaks hau!hty 0ords ?a!ainst the #ost Hi!h" cf. $an :=%+@ and blas he2y. 4he 2outh in verse + is functionally linked to the 2outh seen reviously in verse %" and the blas he2y heard here ?vs. +@ is linked to the na2e of blas he2y seen 0ritten out on the heads ?vs. .@. 3erse 9 then takes u the the2e of blas he2y a!ain and tells e7actly 0hat is blas he2ed= God" His na2e" and His heavenly sanctuary. A air of hrases 0hich be!in Pand there 0as !iven to hi2P >.ai e$othe auto5 occurs in verse :. 4here they describe t0o !rou s of eo le. 4he first consists of the saints. 4he beast 0as er2itted to 2ake 0ar a!ainst the2 and defeat the2. 4he second !rou consists of the rest of the 0orldGs o ulations. In contrast to the saints 0ho atte2 ted to 0ithstand the beast" this !rou ac1uiesced to it and eventually 0ill !o so far as to 0orshi it. Hence the contrast bet0een the t0o !rou s= those o osed to it and those 0ho a!ree to side 0ith it and even 0orshi it.
356

4i2e 8ro hecies of $aniel .% and Revelation .%-.* 4he 0ay in 0hich the ersecution of the saints is hrased is interestin! in vie0 of the revious state2ent about the ti2e eriod !iven to the beast for its authorityK(% 2onths. 4hese t0o lines of te7t should be co2 ared in a literal translation and in transliteration=
hi2]authority to 2ake]?D@ 2onths" forty and t0o.P menas :C .ai < vs. +b PAnd it 0as !iven to .ai meta ion hagion &ai ni&esai e$othe auto 1Cousia poiesai
a-iesai polemon _0.7a &ai edothe '^'

0ith the saints and defeat Tthe2UP

PAnd it 0as !iven to hi2T to ma#e 0ar

4he hrase in verse :a is the only one of these four donation hrases in 0hich the 0ord order is reversed. 5or2ally" after the introductory donation hrase the noun referrin! to the obLect donated is stated ne7t. 4hat is not the case here 2 :a. Instead it is a verb >poiesai5 Pto do" 2akeP that follo0s. But this is the sa2e verb that is found in verse +b. 4his is co22only translated in such a 0ay as to use the 0ord PauthorityP 0hich recedes it as an obLect. But that is not really the case. 4he beast 0as !iven authority to do so2ethin!" not to e7ercise authority. But 0hat 0as it !iven authority to doS 4hat is left for the ne7t donation hrase to say. Accordin! to verse :a that authority 0as to 2ake 0ar on the saints. 4hus the lin!uistic and structural arran!e2ent and relations here indicate that the beastGs authority 0as to be e7ercised es ecially in 2akin! 0ar a!ainst the saints. 4his feature of the te7t brin!s it into line 0ith the assa!es 0e have discussed aboveK$aniel ..-.% and Revelation .%. In both assa!es this sa2e ti2e eriod 0as es ecially and above all one of ersecution of the saints. 4he links of the 0ord PauthorityP >e0ousia5 bet0een these t0o assa!es should also be noted. Accordin! to .*=% the dra!on !ave to the sea beast o0er" seat" 7p9 great >megaten5 authority >e0ousia5. 4hen" accordin! to verse +" the sea beast !oes on to e7ercise that authority >e0ousia5 for (% 2onths. Indeed" the len!th of ti2e that the beast e7ercises that authority is one reason 0hy it is !reat. It is also of interest that these t0o 0ords ?!reat>authority@ are aired in verse %" but are then distributed in verse +. In verse % it is the authority that is !reat >e0ousian megaten5. In verse + the 0ord for !reat >megala5 is used inde endently to refer to the !reat thin!s or Phau!htyP ?RS3@ 0ords that the beast s eaks a!ainst GodA then in the ne7t hrase the 0ord authority >e0ousia5 a ears. Jhat a ears as a 0ord air in the first assa!e is broken u and distributed to successive hrases in the second in357

Yn2eFrb Eed,on+a2elI%and.R.evelation .%-.*

stance" thereby ointin! to a direct relationshi bet0een the t0o sections. 4here are t0o other interestin! 0ord links resent here. 6ne is the verb Pto 0orshi P >pros.une""5. In verse ( ?in the first section@ it is used in an aorist for2" but in verse ; ?the second section@ it is used in a future for2. 4he latter has been co22only taken as a Hebrais2 for a verb 0hich e1uals an i2 erfect or resent tense. Ho0ever" the reverse could be taken for its occurrence in verse (. If one takes the aorist in verse ( as reflectin! a Hebre0 P ro hetic erfectP as used by the 64 ro hets ?a ast tense to describe a future event@" then it 0ould fit 0ell 0ith the visionary nature of that assa!e ?P2en... 0ill 0orshi the dra!on.... and they 0ill 0orshi the beastP@. If this e7 lanation is correct" it 0ould har2oniNe verse ( 0ith verse ;" lacin! that action in the future fro2 HohnGs ti2e into the era s ecified by the ro hecy. 4he other 0ord of note here is the 0ord for P0oundP 0hich the head of the beast receives in a PdeadlyP for2 accordin! to verse * >spha2o5. 4he sa2e 0ord is used for Christ as the slain la2b ?+=9"'".%@. 4hose 0ho are e7cluded fro2 the heavenly kin!do2 are those 0ho are not 0ritten in the book of the Ia2b 0ho 0as PslainP ?0ounded@ fro2 the foundation of the 0orld ?.*=;@. 4he sa2e 0ord is used in both assa!es" and thus a contrast is dra0n bet0een the beast and the PIa2b.P Both received a 0ound that 0as deadly" but ca2e back to lifeK6ne to 0ork for the rede2 tion of 2ankind" the other for its destruction. In the descri tion section ?vss. .-(@" the 0oundin! of the beast co2es to0ard the close of the assa!e ?vs. *@. In the e7 lanation section ?vss. +-.&@ this 0oundin! is also alluded to at the end of the assa!e ?PIf any one slays 0ith the s0ord" 0ith the s0ord 2ust he be slain"P vs. .&A cf. vs. .(" Pthe beast 0hich 0as 0ounded by the s0ordP@. In both cases the literary structure and relations involved indicate that the authority that the beast e7ercises co2es be"ore that 0oundin!. 4here is also a natural and lo!ical link fro2 the !ivin! of authority to its e7ercise bet0een the first assa!e ?vs. %@ and the second ?vs. +@. As the 2any literary structural relations resented here and the lin!uistic links bet0een the sections sho0" a arallelis2 of thou!ht is carried out by Hohn as he described the vision of the beast that he sees and the e7 lanation of the vision that he receives. 4he t0o arts for2 one 0hole. 4he strictly chronolo!ical readin! of this assa!e cannot be a lied" because that rocedure 0ould not 2ake any sense out of the 2ulti le arallels here. 4he 2ore lo!ical understandin! of the t0o sections is that the second is an e7 lanation of the first and that uts the (% 2onths ti2e
35"

Time &rop$ecies o, Daniel .% and Revelation .%-.* period in relations$ip to events in the 1irst assa!e 0hich occurred %e,ore t$e deadly (ound (as seen* T$e traditional order and relations co22only ,ollo(ed by historicist interpreters is the correct one fro2 the stand oint o, t$ese ne(ly o%served conte tual relations* T$is 2eans the (% 2onths of the ti2e ro hecy should lead u to the deadly (ound' not ,ollo(* It also means t$at t$e occurrence o, t$e deadly (ound ma#es an e7cellent demarcator ,or t$e end of that ti2e period* In terms o, t$e ,lo( o, $istory t$at ,its 0ell (it$ endin! this period in .:'; as $as %een descri%ed by t$e $istoricist commentator S2ith cited a%ove*

Conclusion
In t$is c$apter (e $ave e7a2ined three biblical assa!es that contain prop$etic ti2e ele2ents= Daniel .%" Revelation .%" and Revelation .*-One ti2e period is common to all three. T$e *.>% times o, Daniel .%=: e1uals t$e *,% ti2es of Revelation .%=.(" ($ic$ in turn eIuals t$e .%9& days o, Revelation 6A;6 and finally t$e (% 2onths o, Revelation .*=+. In addition" t(o 2ore time periods are ,ound in Daniel .%= the 6A7M and t$e .**+ days. 8e $ave not sou!$t to ma#e very direct $istorical a lications of these ti2e periods in t$is study* Our intent has %een ot$er(ise* Our purpose (as to see ($at in,ormation t$e te7t itself su lies ,or locatin! t$ese ti2e periods in t$e s0ee o, $istory* 4he locatin! of the ti2e eriods in $aniel .% cannot be deter2ined on the basis of that narrative alone. 4hese verses for2 only the conclusion of $anielGs fourth vision. Co2 arison 2ust be 2ade 0ith $aniel .." the body of that sa2e vision. Jhen that co2 arison is carried out" it can be seen that the dates in $aniel .% do not re resent a 0ishful e7tension of the ti2e that the ro het !uessed at ? reteristvie0@. Rather" they are each connected 0ith s ecific events narrated in the flo0 of the history described in the body of the vision. 4he B%< ti2es and the .%'& days belon! in loci ?$an ..=*.-*+@ rior to the ti2e of the end that is 2entioned in $aniel ..=(&. 4he .**+ day eriod also has its roots in the sa2e $aniel .. location. 4his 2eans that the historicist vie0" 0hich laces these ti2e eriods as standin! sy2bolically for 2uch lon!er eriods of historical ti2e in the flo0 of the historical rocess" fits best 0ith the contents of the $aniel .% assa!e. 4he situation in Revelation .% is so2e0hat different. Here the t0o ti2e eriods ? *.>% ti2esA .%9& days@ are found in relationshi to each other in the structure of the narrative itself. 4hey are laced in the 2iddle or 35.

442e4ro necIes oF$ariiel HF and4levelation .%-.* core of the narrative about the churchA they do not belon! at either ole of that history. 4hus they are best a lied to the #iddle A!es or" as this a!e of ersecution has been desi!nated" the $ark A!es. 4hose ti2e eriods ?the t0o sy2bols in actuality denote the sa2e era@ s an that eriod and take the narration of church history do0n to the be!innin! of its final eriod" the ti2e 0hen the re2nant seed of the 0o2an take the sta!e for action. A!ain" the envelo e construction of this narrative and the articular oints at 0hich the ti2e eriods are located su ort the historicist inter retation recisely. 4he data do not oint to either a reterist or futurist inter retation. 4he literary structure of Revelation .* 0ith its ti2e eriod of (% 2onths features yet another Hebre0 thou!ht attern. Here arallelis2 of state2ents o erates. 4he vision of the beast is described in the first section of that narrative ?vss. .-(@ and this is follo0ed by the e7 lanation of that vision ?vss. +-.&@. 4his 2eans that this narrative ?vss. .-.&@ cannot be read in a strai!ht" linear se1uenceA rather" it 2ust be understood as !oin! over the sa2e !round t0ice. In this instance" the second section" 0hich su lies the e7 lanation" includes the ti2e eriod. Je cannot see a ti2e eriod" but 0e can see the actions that the beast carried out" like ersecutin!" s eakin! blas he2y" and e7ercisin! authority over the eo le of the earth. Je have to be told ho0 lon! these thin!s 0ere to last. For that reason the ti2e eriod occurs in the art of the te7t 0hich deals 0ith the e7 lanation. 4he lace 0here the ti2e eriod connects 0ith the recedin! descri tion indicates that it belon!s to those activities of the beast 0hich 0ere to occur before that o0er received its deadly 0ound. Even thou!h that deadly 0ound 0as to be healed" this ti2e eriod 2easured off the years u to that 0oundin!" not after0ards. "y s$o(in! t$at t$e *.>% ti2es ?and the 6A7M days@ o, Daniel 6A %elon! to t$e middle of the $istorical flo0 o, Daniel .." by s$o(in! that t$e t(o ti2e periods o, persecution in Revelation 6A ?*3% timesJ 6A6M daysH %elon! to t$e middle of t$e Christian A!e" and %y sho0in! t$at t$e (% mont$s o, t$e %east %elon! to the time %e,ore its (ound (as received" (e $ave demonstrated that t$e $istoricist inter retation o, t$ese time prop$ecies is soundly based in t$e ,eatures o, the assa!es. 4he preterist vie( ($ic$ uts all o, these back in t$e 2ore re2ote past. (it$ Antioc$us Epip$anes ?second century "*C*H or the Caesars ?first century A*D*H.and the ,uturist vie( ($ic$ puts all o, t$em in the still unfulfilled ,uture do not dra0 stron! su ort fro2 t$e te t and are t$ere,ore untena%le* 36$

III A88E5$ICES

Ellen 0* 8$ite and Revelation :-6 (+: "*C* 3erified

Appendi A Ellen 0* 8$ite and Revelation :-6


Hon 8aulien A t Ohe ur ose of this a endi7 is to clarify" as far as ossible" the vie0s Y Ellen Jhite has e7 ressed in 0ritin! about the ro hecy in Reve-)X. lation (-9. All the state2ents in the available Scri ture inde7es to the 0ritin!s of Ellen Jhite on this section of Revelation have been e7a2ined. Ho0ever" s ace 0ill er2it discussion of only a fe0 that are considered es ecially ertinent to the Adventist inter retation of this assa!e. 4hose 0ho 2ay think a articular state2ent is either P2isinter retedP or Pi!noredP should reco!niNe that this a endi7 is not 0ritten as Pthe final 0ord"P but is intended to sti2ulate discussion and encoura!e careful a lication of the su!!ested 2ethod of study. to controverted oints.

T$e "roader Conte t


4he closest thin! to a 2aLor inter retive state2ent for the entire first half of the book of Revelation is found in the book The 'reat (ontroversy< Here Ellen Jhite offers a clear state2ent re!ardin! the si!nificance of the sanctuary 2aterial in Revelation (";" and ..=
4he holy laces of the sanctuary in heaven are re resented by the t0o a art2ents in the sanctuary on earth. As in vision the a ostle Hohn 0as !ranted a vie0 of the te2 le of God in heaven" he beheld there Pseven la2 s of fire burnin! before the throne.P Revelation (=+. +e sa0 an an!el Phavin! a !olden censerA and there 0as !iven unto hi2 2uch incense" that he should offer it 0ith the rayers of all saints u on the !olden altar 0hich
. See cha . ; in this volu2e on 4he Inter reterGs )se of the Jritin!s of Ellen G. Jhite.P % ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'+&@" (.(-.+. 4his state2ent is also found in 4atriar!hs an$ 4rophets ?#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'+;@" *+9. "ot$ state2ents are an e7 ansion and clarification of the earlier and 2ore a2bi!uous Story o" Re$emption ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'(:@" *::.

363

A endi7 A
(as %e,ore t$e t$rone*5 Revelation ;=*. +ere t$e ro het (as permitted to %e$old t$e ,irst a art2ent o, t$e sanctuary in $eavenJ and he sa( t$ere t$e Pseven lamps o, ,ire5 and 5t$e !olden altar'5 represented %y t$e !olden candlestic# and the !olden altar o, incense in t$e sanctuary on earth. A!ain' Pthe temple of 0od 0as opened5 ?Revelation ..=.'@" and he looked (it$in t$e inner veil' upon t$e $oly o, $olies* +ere $e beheld Pthe ar# of +is testament'5 represented by t$e sacred chest constructed by #oses to contain t$e la( o, 0od*

4here is no 1uestion that Ellen Jhite had these s ecific Bible assa!es in 2ind as she 0rote. 4he state2ent also a ears to be an atte2 t to e7 lain the si!nificance of the authorGs ori!inal vision re!ardin! these 2atters. 4he assa!e is dra0n fro2 one other 2aLor 0orks and is central to the discussion of the sanctuary in its conte7t.* Ho0ever" the ur ose of the cha ter is not to e7e!ete the intention of the Revelator. 4he assa!e 2ay" therefore" 1ualify 2ore as a theolo!ical state2ent than e7e!etical. Be that as it 2ay" this state2ent is Ellen JhiteGs 2ost co2 rehensive state2ent on the 2eanin! of Revelation (-... 4hus" it is of first i2 ortance for understandin! her vie0 of the 2eanin! of this ortion of the book. It see2s evident fro2 this state2ent that Ellen Jhite understood the events of the seals and the tru2 ets to be takin! lace under the rubric of the first a art2ent of the heavenly sanctuary. 4he Second A art2ent 2inistry co2es into vie0 only in Revelation ..=.'. Jhile this 2ay see2 a 2aLor conclusion to dra0 fro2 Lust a fe0 0ords" Ellen Jhite clarified this state2ent in a Review an$ Heral$ article ublished on 5ove2ber '".'&+. 4here she re eats the above state2ent 0ith the follo0in! addition= 4he announce2ent" P4he te2 le of God 0as o ened in heaven" and there 0as seen in his te2 le the ark of his testa2ent"P oints to the o enin! of the 2ost holy lace of the heavenly sanctuary" at the end of the t0enty-three hundred days K in .;(( K as Christ entered there to erfor2 the closin! 0ork of the atone2ent. 4hose 0ho by faith follo0ed their !reat Hi!h 8riest" as he entered u on his 2inistry in the 2ost holy lace" beheld the ark of the testa2ent. T$e title of t$e article is 5T$e Ar# of t$e Covenant*5 I, Ellen Jhite $ad considered it appropriate to indicate that t$e ark should %e eIuated (it$ t$e t$rone in Revelation :-3' or (it$ t$e activity in Revelation ;=*-("
* Cha . %* of The 'reat (ontroversy. (&'-(%%" is entitled" PJhat is the sanctuaiySP

364

A endi7 A t$is (ould $ave %een the ideal place to do so. Instead" s$e 2akes it clear t$at Revelation 66;67 ?for2in! t$e sanctuary introduction to Revelation 6A-6:Kt$e section t$at ,eatures the t$ree an!els9 messa!esH is the oint at ($ic$ Revelation %e!ins to concentrate on t$e end-ti2e Lud!2ent. On close analysis t$ese citations call into 1uestion the assertions so2e are ma#in! that t$e Ellen 8$ite (ritin!s support a day o, atone2ent or end-time settin! for t$e seals and tru2 ets as a ($ole* Such a osition cannot %e maintained in li!$t of t$e fact t$at there are no clear and e7 licit statements ,rom $er en to t$at e,,ect' and t$e citations (e $ave noted seem to i2 ly ot$er(ise*

End-4i2e Si!nificance of Revelation +


4here is only one state2ent that I a2 a0are of that i2 utes unusual i2 ortance to any art of Revelation (-9. 4hat state2ent is found in Testimonies "or the (hur!h, volu2e '. 4hose 0ho hu2ble their hearts and confess their sins 0ill be ardoned. 4heir trans!ressions 0ill be for!iven. But the 2an 0ho thinks that should he confess his sins he 0ould sho0 0eakness" 0ill not find ardon" 0ill not see Christ as his Redee2er" but 0ill !o on and on in trans!ression" 2akin! blunder after blunder and addin! sin to sin. Jhat 0ill such a one do in the day that the books are o ened and every 2an is Lud!ed accordin! to the thin!s 0ritten in the booksS T$e ,i,t$ c$apter o, Revelation needs to be closely studied. It is o, !reat importance to t$ose ($o s$all act a part in the 0ork o, 0od for these last days. T$ere are some ($o are deceived* T$ey do not realiNe 0hat is co2in! on t$e eart$* 4hose ($o $ave permitted t$eir 2inds to beco2e %eclouded in re!ard to ($at constitutes sin are fearfully deceived. /nless t$ey ma#e a decided chan!e t$ey (ill %e ,ound (antin! 0hen 0od pronounces Gud!ment upon t$e c$ildren of men* T$ey have trans!ressed t$e la( and %ro#en the everlastin! covenant' and t$ey (ill receive accordin! to t$eir (or#s* 4he state2ent is art of an address read to the General Conference session of .'&' entitled" PA $istribution of Res onsibility.P 4he first half concerns the need to 2ake 0ise choices 0here the leadershi of the church is concerned. 4he latter half ? . %9+-9'@ is a series of 0arnin!s 2ade u lar!ely of 1uotations fro2 #atthe0 ..=%&-*&A Revelation 9=.%-.:A Revela( ?#ountain 3ie0" CA' .'(;@" %99-9:. For the entire conte7t" see %9%-9'.

365

A endi7 A tion :='-.:A Iuke %.=**-*9A and #atthe0 %(=(%-+.. 4he above state2ent recedes the 1uotation of Revelation 9=.%-.:. 4he state2ent is 2ore a2bi!uous than 0e 0ould like. It is clear that Revelation + is intended to lay a si!nificant role for those 0ho are to act a art in the closin! u of earthGs history. But it is not clear 0hat that role is. $oes Ellen Jhite understand the cha ter itself to be end-ti2eS Is there an event ortrayed there that is of articular i2 ortance to those 0ho live at the endS Are there ti2eless theolo!ical truths there that 0ill lay their usual role also at the endS Is the assa!e ins irational because of its clear de iction of heavenly raise and 0orshi S She does not say. A blank s ace is left" as it 0ere" to be filled in by the reader. 6ne ossibility lies in the 2ention of Lud!2ent both before and after the reference to cha ter +. But this section of the address is neither an e7e!esis of Revelation + nor a theolo!y of Lud!2ent. 4he revious state2ent associates Lud!2ent 0ith the o enin! of the books" 0hile in Revelation + the sin!le book re2ains sealed until after the scene" so there is no e7 licit connection there. 4he later state2ent leads into the 1uotation of Revelation 9=.%-.: 0here the Second Co2in! 0ith its Lud!2ent is in vie0. 4herefore" there is no e7 licit connection in her a eal to study Revelation + 0ith these t0o references to Lud!2ent. T$e soundest 0ay to determine t$e reason ,or Ellen 8$ite9s e2 hasis on t$e importance of Revelation + for t$ose ($o live in the last days is to read all her state2ents re!ardin! t$at cha ter.+ 8$en this procedure is ,ollo(ed' the reader is i2 ressed by $er repeated use of t$e c$apter as an inspirin! vision o, heaven t$at can 2otivate the c$urc$ on eart$* 58$o can be triflin!" ($o can en!a!e in frivolous" common talk" ($ile %y ,ait$ $e sees the Ia2b t$at 0as slain pleadin! before t$e Father... SP 5"y faith let us look u on the rain%o( round a%out t$e t$rone*56 5T$in# of Besus' +e is in +is holy place*** *5< `tQ vie( o, t$e revelation 2ade to Hohn on the Isle of 8at2os"*** $o( can t$ose ($o clai2 to see (ondrous thin!s out of the la0 o, 0od' be ,ound in the list of t$e impure' o, the for-nicators and adulterers... .P; After 1uotin! ortions of Revelation + she says"
+ I have learned fro2 e7 erience that it is un0ise to say PEllen Jhite saysP until one has read every state2ent she has 2ade on a subLect9 See conte7t in Testimonies to )inisters ?#ountain 3ie0" CA" .'9%@" .+:. : See conte7t in Ietter .*(" .;'' ?1uoted in ed. F. $. 5ichol" The S& Bible (ommentary P ?Jashin!ton" $C" .'+:@= '**. ; See conte7t in Testimonies to )inisters, (**.

366

A endi7 A Jill you catch the ins iration of the visionS Jill you let your 2ind d0ell u on the ictureS Jill you not be truly converted" and then !o forth to labor in a s irit entirely different fro2 the s irit in 0hich you have labored in the ast... S If 0e 0ould er2it our 2inds to d0ell 2ore u on Christ and the heavenly 0orld" 0e should find a o0erful sti2ulus and su ort in fi!htin! the battles of the Iord. 8ride and love of the 0orld 0ill lose their o0er as 0e conte2 late the !lories of that better land so soon to be our ho2e. Beside the loveliness of Christ" all earthly attractions 0ill see2 of little 0orth. .& In these kinds of state2ents 0e find" erha s" the best clue to Ellen JhiteGs vie0 of the si!nificance of Revelation + in the last days. It is the clearest and 2ost e7citin! de iction of heavenly 0orshi in all of Scri ture. 4hose 0ho 2editate u on this scene 0ill find encoura!e2ent and 2otivation to re2ain faithful to the end" even as their s iritual forefathers in earlier ti2es found encoura!e2ent and 2otivation in the sa2e assa!e. $id Ellen Jhite associate the scene of Revelation + 0ith any articular event in historyS The &esire o" ges ties the entire scene of Revelation (-+ to ChristGs ascension and His subse1uent enthrone2ent in the heavenly sanctuary. .. 4here is no 1uestion that Ellen Jhite has Revelation (-+ in 2ind in this assa!e" and that this scri ture lays a central role in the assa!e. Her state2ent is found in one of her 2aLor books" and it is in har2ony 0ith the 2ost natural understandin! of the Bible te7t. Ho0ever" althou!h the events of Revelation + ori!inally took lace at a articular oint in ti2e" 0e should not insist that the three hy2ns of accla2ation ?vss. '-.*@ 0ere sun! only once. 5o doubt they enter the re ertoire of the on!oin! 0orshi services in the heavenly sanctuary. 4hus" Ellen Jhite can 1uote fro2 this section in the conte7t of 0hat is ha enin! in heaven no0".% yet can also 1uote verses '-.* in the conte7t of the e7 erience of the redee2ed as they enter the heavenly courts after the Second Co2in!..* 4his a lication is su orted by the observa. See conte~t in Testi+oniesRor the 3hurch "H44#45. 1$ See conte~t in Revie- and !erald, No_em{er 15!1""7. 11 'ountain Viev! 3A, 1.4$]! "33#35. V i0 0tatement i0 re@eated more {rie/lE j` Revie- and !erald, ,ulE 2.!1".$. 12 The SD Bi/le 3o++entary 7H.33h 3hrist4s P/aect Lessons 'ountain Viev! 3A, 1.41]! 176h The binistry of !ealin0 'ountain Viev! 3A, 1.42]! 417. Note t at in Patriarchs and Prophets, 36! 0 e uote0 `e_ 5H11 in a @re#Creation conte~tt 13 Testi+onies to binisters, 433h The 2reat 3ontroversy, 545!647#4"!651#52!671h The SD Bi/le 3o++entary 6H1$.3h Testi+onies for the 3hurch "H44. The 2reat 3ontroversy, 545! in @articular a@@ear0 e~eJetical vit re0@ect to `e_ 5H13.

367

A endi7 A tion that the son! of verse .* resu oses the involve2ent of the entire creation" an event only fully realiNed after the destruction of sin and sinners at the close of the 2illenniu2. So2e su!!est that a state2ent 0ritten in a letter by Ellen Jhite in .'&& indicates that she understood ChristGs takin! of the book ?Rev +=:@ to have occurred in .;((" not A*D* *...( Let us e7a2ine this state2ent 0ith so2e care. Hohn 0rites" PI beheld" and I heard the voice of 2any an!els round about the throne.P An!els 0ere united in the 0ork of Hi2 0ho had broken the seals and taken the book. Four 2i!hty an!els hold back the o0ers of this earth till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. 4he nations of the 0orld are ea!er for conflictA but they are held in check by the an!els. Jhen this restrainin! o0er is re2oved" there 0ill co2e a ti2e of trouble and an!uish. It is evident that the ara!ra hGs initial sentence is fro2 Revelation +=... Accordin! to the ar!u2ent Ellen JhiteGs state2ent" in effect" laces Revelation +=.. a"ter the breakin! of the seals. Since Revelation +=.. contains an allusion to $aniel :='-.&" it is further ar!ued that its location is in the #ost Holy 8lace at the ti2e of Lud!2ent. 4hus" it is concluded that the rece tion of the book and the breakin! of the seals occur in the #ost Holy 8lace fro2 .;(( on. Jhen the Ia2b Pca2e and took the bookP ?vs. :" FH3@" it is asserted that He is 2ovin! fro2 the holy lace into the #ost Holy..+ Jhile this kind of reasonin! is both fla0ed and strained" it does raise 1uestions about the intent of the Ellen Jhite state2ent. It deserves a closer e7a2ination. First" it certainly associates Revelation +=.. 0ith the events of Revelation :=.-*" 0hich are end-ti2e. Ho0ever" her statement is a general $es!ription o" the wor. o" angels. And Ellen Jhite re eatedly uses the lan!ua!e of Revelation +=.. in !eneral descri tions of the 2inistry of an!els. .9 4herefore" it is 1uite ossible that 0e are dealin! 0ith a !eneral Ellen Jhite state2ent on an!el 2inistry and should not overrate the cita.( Ietter :'".'&&A Ellen 0* Jhite Comments' The S"' i,%e (ommentary :='9:A Robert +auser' Give 'lory to Him ?An!0in" CA" .';*@" *.. .+ 4he fact is overlooked that the Lam% is already standin! Pin the midst o, the throneP ERev +=9@ before He Pco2es and takes t$e %oot*5 To assume a chan!e of a art2ents in Rev +=9.: is to su!!est that t$e PthroneP is a (ay of s eakin! for the entire sanctuary" so2ethin! 1ound in neither the Bible nor the 0ritin!s o, Ellen Jhite. .9 Cf. The S& Bible (ommentary :='**" '9:-9;A The 'reat (ontroversy, +....%A 4atriar!hs an$ 4rophets, *9A (ounsels on Health ?#ountain Vie(' CA' .'+.@" *%" a2on! ot$ers*

36"

A endi7 A tion of verse .. for inter retive ur oses in this instance. #ore roble2atic is the hrase in her second sentence= Pthe 0ork of Hi2 0ho had broken the seals and taken the book.P 4his reverses the order of the biblical te7t. It see2s to lace the breakin! of the seals in the ast fro2 her ers ective. .: 4he state2ent is taken fro2 Ietter :'".'&&" 0ritten on #ay .& of that year* T$e letter is a ra2blin! a eal to a Jillia2 Ferr" callin! for a fuller co22it2ent to the !os el and to obedience to GodGs co22and2ents. Ellen JhiteGs ersonal Lournal indicates that she 0as e7tre2ely 0eak and 0eary fro2 over0ork and slee lessness on that day".; 0hich 0ould account for the ra2blin! nature of the letter. .' It nears its conclusion 0ith a !eneral descri tion of the 0ork of an!els in hel in! GodGs eo le obey.%& 4here is no reference to the investi!ative Lud!2ent. 4he state2ent 0e are e7a2inin! is found no0here else in her 0ritin!s. 5or is it central to the oint of the letter 0hich is 1uite ho2iletical in its thrust. Such an isolated state2ent in an un ublished letter should not be used to overturn the i2 act of careful e7e!esis and such 2aLor ublished state2ents as The 'reat (ontroversy, a!es (.(-(.+" and The &esire o" ges, a!es ;**-;*+.%. 4he fact that she 0as e7tre2ely tired on that day 2ay account for her confusion re!ardin! the ti2in! of the breakin! of the seals and the order in 0hich the breakin! of the seals and the takin! of the book took lace.%%

The Sealed Scroll


Ellen Jhite 2akes a handful of brief state2ents 0ith re!ard to the sealed scroll of Revelation +. She a ears to su!!est in Testimonies to )inisters, a!e ..+" that the sealed scroll is the book of $aniel. After 1uotin! $aniel .%=;-.* she says" 5It 0as the Iion of the tribe of Hudah 0ho unsealed the book and !ave to Hohn the revelation of 0hat should be in these last days.P
.: T$e breakin! of the seventh seal (ould a ear to be at or after the Second Co2in!. .; She had not had si!nificant slee for three daysV .' Althou!h the letter is len!thy" there is little coherent flo0 of thou!ht fro2 one ara!ra h to anot$er* %& T$e section of the letter Lust revious to the citation in The S& Bible (ommentary :='9: is ublished in The S& i,%e (ommentary :='%% ?1uotin! Rev .=9A +='-.&A .%=..@. %. T$ere is not a sin!le statement in $er (ritin!s that s ecifically inter rets Rev+A:" so it should not %e assu2ed that she sa0 a si!ni,icant chan!e there. %% In the ty e0ritten 2anuscri t of t$e tetter t$e ori!inal Pan!els are unitedP 0as re laced 0ith Pan!els were united"P as if s$e sensed a certain a0k0ardness in the state2ent.

36.

A endi7 A

))

A,ter ara hrasin! Daniel ,or some lines%* s$e states' 5T$e %oo# of Daniel is unsealed in t$e revelation to Bo$n' and carries us ,or(ard to the last scenes o, t$is eart$9s $istory*5 It is clear fro2 the state2ent that the book of $aniel is unsealed in the book of Revelation. Jhat is less clear is 0hether the scroll of cha ter + itself is the book of $aniel in her thinkin!. 6ther state2ents 2ake it 2ore likely that she understood the scroll to contain the full account of hu2an history" 2uch as an e7e!esis of the assa!e indicates ?Pa book of destinyP@. %( Her state2ent in (hrist+s DbAe!t Jessons, a!e %'(" fits that conclusion 0ell= 4hus t$e Be(is$ leaders made t$eir c$oice* T$eir decision (as re!istered in the %oo# 0hich Bo$n sa( in t$e $and of +im t$at sat upon t$e throne" the %oo# 0hich no man could open* In all its vindictiveness this decision (ill appear before t$em in t$e day ($en t$is book is unsealed %y tie Iion o, the tribe o, Buda$* T$e scroll contains %ot$ t$e $istory and t$e destiny o, t$e 0orld= 4he li!ht 0e have received upon t$e t$ird an!el9s 2essa!e is t$e true li!ht. T$e mar# of t$e beast is e actly ($at it $as %een proclaimed to %e* Not all in re!ard to t$is matter is yet understood' nor (ill it %e understood until t$e unrollin! of t$e scrollJ %ut a most solemn (or# is to %e acco2 lished in our (orld* Both state2ents su!!est that Ellen Jhite understood the full unrollin! of the scroll as a 2atter for the future" not the ast ?such as .;((@. #ore recently" a letter has co2e to li!ht 0hich contains a fairly clear state2ent on the identity of the scroll.%9 After 1uotin! Revelation +=.-* she states" 4here in His o en hand lay the book" the roll of the history of GodGs rovidences" the ro hetic history of nations and the church. Herein 0as contained the divine utterances" +is authority" +is co22and2ents. His la0s" the 0hole sy2bolic counsel of the Eternal" and the history of all
%* Sec in conte7t" Testimonies to )inisters, ..+. A si2ilar state2ent is 2ade in Sele!te$ )essages, Book . ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'+;@" .&+. In both instances Ellen Jhite is s eakin! directly about tlie unsealin! of the book o, $aniel" not t$e scroll o, Rev 3* %( Seccha . .." P4he Seven Seals"P in this volu2e. %+ 4fefliffiC4iies "or the (hur!h 9=.:. %9 Ellen G. Jhite" Ietter 9+".;';" in )anus!ript &e%eases ' ?Ellen G. Jhite Estate' Silver S rin! I,$".''&@=:.

37$

A endi7 A
rulin! o0ers in the nations. In sy2bolic lan!ua!e 0as contained in that roll the influence of every nation" ton!ue" and eo le fro2 the be!innin! of earthGs history to its close. 4his roll 0as 0ritten 0ithin and 0ithout. Hohn says= TRev +=(-+A +=;-.(A 9=;-..A ;=.-(" 1uotedU.

4his e7 licit state2ent about the scroll of Revelation + indicates that it contains the entire s0ee of the !reat controversy bet0een !ood and evil as it ertains to this earth" includin! both the acts of God and His created bein!s throu!hout their history. 4here are only t0o oints in hu2an history 0hich su2 u all thin!s. 6ne is in Christ at the crossA %G the other is at the close of the #illenniu2 0hen all history is laid o en to vie0. %; Since the readvent Lud!2ent" associated 0ith the year .;((" is li2ited accordin! to Ellen Jhite to those 0ho have rofessed faith in God" %' her state2ent here 0ould not in oint that year ?.;((@ as the ti2e 0hen the Ia2b took the book. 4he 2ost likely reference oint for this state2ent is ChristGs enthrone2ent in heaven as our Fin!-8riest in A.$. *. ?Acts +=*.@. 5ote that the scroll contains Pthe roll of the history of GodGs rovidences"P an a ro riate desi!nation for the 64 era" and the propheti! history of nations and the church" a state2ent 2ost a ro riate at the be!innin! of the Christian Era" not near its close. Co2binin! all of the above" it a ears that Ellen Jhite understood the scroll of Revelation to be the su2 and substance of history" ro hecy" and the entire lan and ur ose of God. As such it contains that to 0hich both $aniel and Revelation oint and 2ore. As such it is not fully o ened to vie0 until the end of history. It is truly the Pbook of destiny.P

Interpretin! t$e Seals


4here is a aucity of state2ents associated 0ith the seals of Revelation 9. #ost of Ellen JhiteGs scri tural allusions to the seals have to do 0ith the souls under the altar in the Fifth seal and the heavenly si!ns 2entioned in the si7th seal. 4here is" ho0ever" one 2ost interestin! reference to the horse2en of Revelation 9=.-;. 4he sa2e s irit is seen today that is re resented in Revelation 9=9-;.
%: At the cross Christ e2bodied in Hi2self both the character of 0od and the sins of a fallen creation. %; The 'reat (ontroversy, 999-:.. %' Ibid." (;&"(;*. *:.

A endi7 A History is to be reenacted. 4hat 0hich has been 0ill be a!ain. 4his s irit 0orks to confuse and to er le7. $issension 0ill be seen in every nation" kindred" ton!ue" and eo leA and those 0ho have not had a s irit to follo0 the li!ht that God has !iven throu!h His livin! oracles" throu!h His a ointed a!encies" 0ill beco2e confused. 4heir Lud!2ent 0ill reveal 0eakness. $isorder and strife and confusion 0ill be seen in the church.*& 4his state2ent in its conte7t is un1uestionably a citation of the biblical te7t of the seals. 4he first t0o sentences i2 ly that the third and fourth seals ?Rev 9=9-;@ refer to historical realities that are ast" but the s irit of 0hich continues in Ellen JhiteGs resent and future. Her state2ent as a 0hole i2 lies that the third and fourth seals re resent s iritual confusion and er le7ity in the church. 4hese seals have their historical fulfill2ent in the corru ted church of the #iddle A!es" but the rinci le of confusion and a ostasy is not li2ited to that eriod of history. In Testimonies "or the (hur!h, volu2e +" a!e 9.(" she alludes to the third seal. ?Q vie0 of the infinite rice aid for 2anGs rede2 tion" ho0 dare any rofessin! the na2e of Christ treat 0ith indifference one of His little onesS Ho0 carefully should brethren and sisters in the church !uard every 0ord and action lest they hurt the oil and the 0ineV Ho0 atiently" kindly" and affectionately should they deal 0ith the urchase of the blood of ChristV 4his echo of biblical lan!ua!e su!!ests that the oil and 0ine re resent those 0ho believe in Hesus. If so" the co22and of Revelation 9=9 not to hurt the oil and the 0ine sy2boliNes GodGs rotectin! care for His Plittle ones.P 6f the rou!hly half doNen state2ents alludin! to the souls under the altar in the fifth seals" one a lies the cry of the 2artyrs to the ersecutions of the 64 eraV *. 40o a ly the cry of the 2artyrs in a !eneral sense. *% 4he cry re resents GodGs continuin! a0areness of the inLustice in the 0orld. 6ther state2ents clearly i2 ly an end-ti2e settin!" althou!h even here ?0ith the ossible e7ce tion of #anuscri t *'".'&9@ the usa!e is ri2arily in a !eneral sense rather than as a s ecific e7e!etical inter retation.**
*& Ellen G. Jhite" Ietter 9+".;';" in )anus!ript Releases : ?Ellen 0* 8$ite Estate= Silver S rin!" MD' .''&@" .+%. 26 Review an$ Heral$, Huly .:".'&&. *% P4he voices of those under the altar... are still sayin!"...P >Review an$ Heral$, #ay %".;'*" e2 hasis added. C,- (hrist+s DbAe!ts Jessons, .:'-;&@. ** TheS& Bible (ommentary 9=.&;. >Review an$ Heral$, $ece2ber %.".;':@A The S& Bible (ornBP<

A endi7 A

4his 2ulti le focus and a lication is underscored by an e7e!esis of the assa!e.*( 4he souls under the altar are the roduct of ersecution throu!hout history leadin! u to the ti2e of their cry. 4hat cry is rior to the readvent Lud!2ent ?cf. Rev 9=.&@. 4he fact that the cry receives a artial res onse i2 lies that the Hud!2ent has be!un 0ithin the seal subse1uent to the ti2e of the cry. 4he last art of the seal has entered into the ti2e of Lud!2ent and antici ates the final ersecution of earthGs history. So an endti2e focus is not ina ro riate 0ithin a broad historical ers ective" but the seal as a 0hole covers a broader sco e than Lust the end-ti2e. It is evident that Ellen Jhite understands the fifth seal to be fi!urative. Jhen she discusses the si7th seal" ho0ever" she sees it in literal ter2s. 4he earth1uake of Revelation 9=.% is identified 0ith the Iisbon 1uake of .:++. 4he si!ns in the sun" 2oon" and stars are tied to those redicted by Christ. *+ 4hese are identified 0ith the $ark $ay" #ay .'".:;&" and the 2eteoric sho0er of 5ove2ber .*" .;**" both occurrin! in 5orth A2erica.*9 4he dra2atic events of Revelation 9=.(" on the other hand" are associated 0ith the return of Christ.*: 4he des airin! cry of the 0icked to be hidden fro2 the 0rath of God and the Ia2b is like0ise understood to take lace at ChristGs second advent.*;

Conclusion
#any of the state2ents in 0hich Ellen Jhite utiliNes lan!ua!e re2iniscent of Revelation are at ti2es a2bi!uous. Ho0ever" her clearest" 2ost e7e!etical state2ents" are su ortive of the e7e!esis of the te7t itself.

+e+ory 7H.6" 'S 3.!11:67O Testimonies for the Dhur h S*AE?3 ;evie1 and 9erald2 *Lne 1G,1".7. *( Sec cha . .." 5T$e Seven Seals"P in t$is volu2e. 23 Rev 6;6A-62J c,* Matt A:;A7J Lu#e A6;A3* 26 The Great Controversy, 2<'2M:-='222-2:* 2< Siffis of the rones, April AA'6762J The Story of &edenytu#,>33,?airiarchs and Prophets,=>E, &enew and !erald, Se@tem{er 22!1 11O ;evie1 and !erald, January 1!,1""6. 3 Testi+onies to binistcrs,%%%d Patriarchs and Prophets, 34$41h The Story \fRede+fftion,%lld Revie- and fit'raid, arc 1"!#S$L', Revie- and !erald, 5anuary #,,1""6h Revie- and !erald, A@ril 2"! 1".1h Revie- and!erald, ,une 1"!1.$1 "The SD Bi/le 3o++entary 6H1$7$]h Testi+onies for the 3hurch, 2H41#42h etc. 3T3

Appendi "

8$en Did t$e Seventy 8ee#s o, Daniel 7;A: "e!inC`


Jillia2 H. Shea
In the first year of $arius the #ede ?+*; B.C.@" $aniel" the ro het and Babylonian court official" set about offerin! u to God earnest rayers on behalf of the e7iles fro2 Hudah. In his rayer ?$an '=.-.'@ $aniel led 0ith the Iord to for!ive His rebellious eo le and restore the2 to their land and ca ital city. He sou!ht the Iord for the fulfill2ent of His ro2ises to the ro hets that Herusale2 and its te2 le 0ould be rebuilt after the destruction that it suffered. God ans0ered $anielGs rayer. He sa0 to it that His eo le 0ere sent back to their ho2eland by Cyrus ?ENra ." %@" rebuilt the te2 le ?ENra +" 9@" and eventually rebuilt the city of Herusale2 ?5eh .-+" 9=.+-.9@. And God 0ent beyond $anielGs re1uests. 4hrou!h the ro hetic 0ord trans2itted by Gabriel ?$an '=%.-%*@" God !ave $aniel instruction about the #essiah 0ho 0as to co2e to His eo le after the city and te2 le 0ere rebuilt. In this ro hecy" God desi!nated the ti2e 0hen the #essiah 0ould co2e. It 0as to be 2arked off fro2 the ti2e of the event $aniel had been rayin! about" the rebuildin! of Herusale2. Gabriel said to $aniel" PFno0 therefore and understand" that fro2 the !oin! forth of the 0ord to restore and to build Herusale2 unto the #essiah the 8rince shall be seven 0eeks" and threescore and t0o 0eeks= the street shall be built a!ain" and the 0all" even in troublous ti2esP ?$an '=%+" translated by auithor@. Clearly' this re2arkable prop$ecy is a maGor prop$etic landmar#* It
BCo yri!ht - .''. by the author" used by er2ission. Re rinted fro2 ihe #ournal o" the Theologi!al So!iety %>. ?.''.@" ..+-*;. 375 $ventist

A endi7 B offers a valuable criterion by 0hich the true #essiah could be distin!uished fro2 false ones. If a erson clai2in! to be the #essiah did not co2e at the ri!ht ti2e" he could not be the true #essiah. Given this 2aLor si!nificance of this ro hecy 0e do 0ell to ay careful attention to its details. 4he 2inor focus of our study of this ro hecy 0ill be on the len!th of ti2e involvedA our 2aLor focus 0ill be on its startin! oint. Je 0ill deal briefly 0ith the len!th of ti2e first.

T$e Time &eriod


A* Len!t$* 4he first 2atter to deal 0ith in ter2s of the len!th of the eriod has to do 0ith the units by 0hich it 0as to be 2easured off. 6lder translations such as the FH3 translated the 0ord involved here as P0eeks"P 0hile a 2ore recent one" the 5iy refers the translation of Psevens.P 4he net effect of both translations is the sa2e len!th of ti2e" for those co22entators 0ho refer the translation of PsevensP ackno0led!e that they are sevens of years.. For those 0ho retain the older translation of P0eeks"P each of the 0eeks is 2ade u of seven ro hetic days" and each ro hetic day is taken as a historical year accordin! to the a ocaly tic her2eneuti-cal rinci le of a day for a year. ?See ENek (=9A 5u2 .(=*(@. % 4hus the only real difference bet0een the t0o schools of thou!ht is 0hether or not the year-day rinci le needs to be invoked here. In both cases the total nu2ber of years co2es out to (;* years ?: 9% : a (;*@. Jhile the translation of the crucial 0ord is of interest" it need not detain us" for the lin!uistic evidence relevant to the 1uestion still favors the translation P0eeks.P * Even the 5I3 uts P0eeksP in the 2ar!in. "* &unctuation and division* 4he other 1uestion involved 0ith the len!th of ti2e loefore the #essiah 0ould co2e has to do 0ith unctuation. Should the assa!e be translated in such a 0ay as to indicate that the seven 0eeks and the si7ty-t0o 0eeks belon! to!ether as a co2 ound unit" or in such a 0ay as to a ly it to t0o se arate events. So2e 2ode2 translations se arate the2" 0hereas older translations kee the2 to!ether. 4he RS3" in s eakin! of the rince" says that Pthere shall be seven 0eeks.P 4hen after
6 L 8ood' (ommentary on "anie% E0rand Rapids' 67<2H' %(:. 8ood !ives ,our main reasons ($y $e $olds that each unit o, the PsevensP s$ould %e interpreted as a literal and $istorical year* A 1or an e tended discussion o, t$e year-day principle as applied to apocalyptic time prop$ecies see my study in c$ap* 2 o, Se%ected Studies on Prophetic +nterpretation, DARCOM Series' vol* 6 E8as$in!ton' DC; "i%lical Researc$ Institute' 67=AH' 36-==* 2 I%id*' :(-::.

376

A endi7 B

insertin! a eriod to close the sentence" it be!ins a ne0 sentence" P4hen for si7ty-t0o 0eeks it shall lSe built a!ain.P 4his unctuation !ives the seven 0eeks to the rince and allo0s si7ty-t0o 0eeks for the reconstruction of the city. But if the t0o ti2e units are ke t to!ether" then both the seven and the si7ty-t0o 0eeks 2ust be fulfilled before the 8rince could co2e. 4he rationale by 0hich these ti2e units have been se arated in translations" such as the RSy involves the a2ount of stress and 0ei!ht ut on the unctuation 2ark" +athnah, in the Hebre0 te7t as ointed by the #assoretes. 4here are a nu2ber of roble2s 0ith this treat2ent. In the first lace" an +athrilSh is not a sophpSsu*, Hust as a co22a is not a eriod. A soph pasu* ends verses of the Hebre0 te7t Lust as a eriod ends an En!lish sentence" but the +athriSh is used only at the a ro7i2ate 2iddle of the Hebre0 sentence" in contrast to the co22a" 0hich sets off hrases. ij divide the Hebre0 sentence into t0o sentences 0ith a eriod as a divider in En!lish Lust because an +athriSh is located in the 2iddle of it !oes far beyond the si!nificance of the +athnah, turnin! it into a sophpasu*. $oin! such a thin! is not 0arranted by the Hebre0 accent and is not !ood translatin!. 4he arbitrary nature of the RS3 unctuation here can be borne out by a co2 arison 0ith 0hat it has done 0ith the rest of $aniel '. 5o other e7a2 les occur in the RS3 te7t of $aniel ' in 0hich an +athnah is re resented 0ith a eriod. Further" there are four cases in 0hich the RS3 does not re resent even a soph pISsu* 0ith a eriod. $aniel '=. treats a soph pSsu* as a hy hen" verse ( as a co22a" and verses +" %& as a se2icolon. Jhen 2easured a!ainst its o0n ractice" 0hat the RS3 has done 0ith the +athnah in $aniel '=%+ is not only oor translatin! but also 1uite an arbitrary case of s ecial leadin!. 4he older aired translation of the ti2e units should be retained. Even the IDD su orts the aired translation in this case.

T$e Startin! &oint


6ur conclusion thus far is that the seven and si7ty-t0o 0eeks in $aniel '=%+ belon! to!ether as a co2 ound 2akin! u si7ty-nine 0eeks or (;* historical years until the co2in! of the #essiah. If the startin! oint for this eriod can be found" then the date for His co2in! (;* years later can be Fi7ed. So 0e turn ne7t to the i2 ortant startin! oint. Daniel '=%+ states t$at the startin! point (as to be a !oin! ,ort$ o, a 5(ord5 E+e%re( $abar5 to restore Berusalem* "e,ore lookin! ,or s ecific
377

A endi7 B decrees and the actual rebuildin!" 0e should ask a fe0 1uestions about the ter2" P0ord.P A* T$e Decree* 4he reason 0hy the ter2 co2es u is because an effort has been 2ade by so2e historical-critical scholars to e1uate this P0ordP in $aniel '=%+ 0ith the P0ord of the Iord to Here2iahP to 0hich $aniel referred in verse % of this cha ter. ( $aniel 0as studyin! the scroll of Here2iah about the ro hecy of the desolation of Herusale2 for seventy years. Herusale2 0as to be restored at the end of that eriod. Because the 2essa!e that ca2e to Here2iah 0as ter2ed a P0ordP and the sa2e Hebre0 ter2 0as used in $aniel '=%+" should they be e1uatedS $oin! so 0ould lace the co22ence2ent of the :& 0eeks of $aniel back in the ti2e of Here2iah" about +'* B.C. 4his ty e of inter retation overlooks the fact that the ter2 for P0ordP is used a!ain t0ice in $aniel '=%*. If one is to look for lin!uistic connections" here in verse %* is a far 2ore reasonable one to use than the reference in verse % to the ti2e of Here2iah. But even here there is a difference bet0een the P0ordP of GabrielGs introduction and the P0ordP in the ro hecy itself. In the first art of verse %*" Gabriel told $aniel that a 0ord had !one forth >yasa65, obviously fro2 God 0ho sent the 2essa!e to $aniel. 4he fact that the erfect for2 of the verb is used indicates that the 0ord had already !one forth" and havin! !one forth it had reached Gabriel" 0ho 0as no0 !oin! to !ive it to $aniel. 4he reference is to a ast action or co22unication 0hich $aniel is no0 to understand. But the 0ord 0hich $aniel is to understand is not the decree for the rebuildin! of Herusale2. It is the entire ro hecy" all of 0hich constitutes this articular P0ord.P 4hus the P0ordP about the reconstruction of Herusale2 0as contained in the entire overall ro hetic 0ord or 2essa!e that Gabriel brou!ht to $aniel. 4hat 0ord 0as a descri tion of future events. And one of those future events 0as to be the !oin! forth of the P0ordP or decree to rebuild Herusale2. 4hus the P0ordP of verse %+ is neither the 0ord of the Iord to Here2iah in verse % nor the 0ord of the Iord throu!h Gabriel to $aniel in verse %*. It is so2ethin! to be fulfilled in the future. For corroboration 0e note that the ter2 for P!oin! forthP ?Hebre0 masa65 that is used in verse %+ is neither the ter2 that is used for the 0ord in verse % ?Hebre0 hayah5 nor the verb used in verse %* >Hebrew yasa+5. A further
4 ,. A. ontJomerE! 1.27]! 37". 3ritical and16e0etical 3o++entary on she Book of4Daniel '+din{urJ !

37"

A endi7 R

contrast bet0een verse % and verse %+ is that the for2er is s ecifically Pthe 0ord of the Iord"P in a construct chain 0ith GodGs na2e in the !enitive relationshi " 0hereas in verse %+ it is LGust Pa 0ordP 0ith neither a divine na2e nor an article used 0ith it "* T$e #in! of the decree* 4he ne7t oint to be covered here is 0hat it 0as that the ro hecy foretold 0as to be rebuilt. 4he verse in 1uestion uses the s ecific na2e of the city" Herusale2. 4here can be no 1uestion" therefore" that 0e 2ust look to the circu2stances under 0hich that city 0as rebuilt. 4he s ecific 2entionin! of the na2e PHerusale2P hel s avoid confusion 0ith the rebuildin! of the te2 le 0ithin Herusale2. A city is not a te2 le and a te2 le is not a city" althou!h a city 2ay contain a te2 le or be located near one. 4his distinction is i2 ortant because the decree of Cyrus in ENra .=%-( s ecifically 2entions authoriNation for the rebuildin! of the te2 le but does not 2ention the city. In res onse to that decree" and to a su le2entary decree by $arius I" the te2 le 0as in fact rebuilt ?ENra 9=.(-.9@A but even after its reconstruction the city of Herusale2 still lay in ruins" and this 0as the condition in 0hich 5ehe2iah found it in the t0entieth year of Arta7er7es I" so2e :& years later. 4he te2 le 0as co2 leted in the si7th year of $arius I" +.+ B.C." but the city 0as still unreconstructed in the ti2e of Arta7er7es in the 2iddle of the follo0in! century. Je 2ust no0 atte2 t to discover the decree that had the effect of leadin! to the rebuildin! of the city. It 0as not the decree of Cyrus in ENra .A nor 0as it the decree of $arius in ENra 9" 0hich 0as in actuality an authoriNation to carry out the sti ulations of the ori!inal decree of Cyrus. Both of these decrees dealt 0ith the te2 le and both of the2 0ere brou!ht to their final consu22ation 0hen the te2 le 0as finished. Je 2ust look beyond the rebuildin! of the te2 le for the ne7t 2aLor buildin! roLect relatin! to Herusale2. 4here actually 0ere t0o decrees" or a decree and an authoriNation" that 0ere involved in this later event" 2uch like the revious t0o decrees focused on the te2 le. 4his ne0 air of official rulin!s is found in ENra : and 5ehe2iah %. 4he circu2stances and contents of these decrees re1uire close e7a2ination in our 1uest for the startin! oint of $anielGs ti2e ro hecy. C. 4he nature o, the decree* 4he decree !iven to ENra is recorded in ENra :=.%-%9 as an official decree of Arta7er7es. It is 1uoted in the te7t as a co y of the decree in the ori!inal Ara2aic lan!ua!e. Because the decree of $arius in ENra 9 actually contains a reiteration of the antecedent decree of Cyrus" the decree of Arta7er7es is lon!er than that of $arius. 4he
37.

A endi7 B decrees !et lon!er as one !oes throu!h the book. 4he decree of Cyrus in cha ter . is the shortest" the decree of $arius in cha ter 9 is of 2ediu2 len!th" and the decree ofArta7er7es in cha ter : is the lon!est and should" therefore" be accorded a s ecial 2easure of i2 ortance. Contributin! to its i2 ortance is the 0ide-ran!in! authority it accorded to ENra in this decree. By this decree he 0as not only !iven rivile!es to ay for and offer sacrifices in the te2 le in Herusale2" but he 0as also !iven o0er to a oint 2a!istrates and Lud!es in the rovince of Beyond the River. 4he rovince of Beyond the River included 2ore than Hudea. It included all of Syria that 0as located 0est and south of the / er Eu hrates River. 4hus by this decree ENra 0as !iven authority not over the He0s alone" but also over the ersons and territory outside of Hudea ?ENra :=%+@. He 0as also !iven er2ission to dra0 on the treasury of that rovince u to the a2ount of .&& talents of silver. ?See ENra :=%.-%%.@ Included a2on! ENraGs res onsibilities under this decree of Arta7er- es 0as the authoriNation to teach the la0 of His God to He0s and non- Be(s alike in the sa2e e7tended territory. For anyone 0ho 0ould not obey his teachin!s in these 2atters he 0as authoriNed to e7ecute unish2ent u to the death enalty. ?See ENra :=%+-%9.@ His authority over non-He0s is robably the 2ost re2arkable feature of the decree. 4he e7tent and i2 ortance of ENraGs osition should be noted carefully in order to understand the nature of his action that follo0ed u on his arrival at Herusale2. A second 2aLor return of He0s ?ENra ;@ took lace under this sa2e decree. 4his 0as only the second official lar!e-scale return of He0s since the 8ersian con1uest of Babylon" the first bein! under Cyrus. ?See ENra .-%.@ Jhile a trickle of He0s 2ay have returned bet0een these t0o events" the full and official nature of this authoriNed return should be noted. ?See ENra :=.*.@ In the sa2e 0ay that an officially decreed return initiated the reconstruction of the te2 le" this second officially decreed return served as the sti2ulus to co22ence the reconstruction of Herusale2. D* T$e results of the decree* 5o0 0e co2e to the 1uestion of 0hat ENra did u on his arrival at Herusale2. Je kno0 that he had to deal 0ith the 1uestion of 2i7ed or forei!n 2arria!es ?see ENra '".&@" but 0hat else did he doS His other 2ain activity is recorded in ENra (=:-.9" in a letter fro2 the 0estern !overnors to Arta7er7es" the kin! 0ho had issued the decree. 4he !overnors struck a note of alar2" re ortin!" Pbe it kno0n to the kin! that the He0s 0ho ca2e u fro2 you to us have !one to Herusale2. 4hey are rebuildin! that rebellious and 0icked cityA they are finishin! the 0alls and re airin! the foundationsP ?ENra (=.%@. 4hen the !overnors 0ent 3"$

A endi7 B on to threaten the kin! 0here it could hurt hi2 2ost" in the treasury or ocketbook= PIf this city is rebuilt and the 0alls finished" they 0ill not ay tribute" custo2" or toll" and the royal revenue 0ill be i2 airedP ?vs. .*@. So2e i2 ortant as ects of this re ort to the kin! need to be considered. First" the re ort is recorded in a letter fro2 the 0estern !overnors. It is found in Ara2aic in the book of ENra as an official docu2ent of the 8ersian archives ?see vss. :-..@. 4here can be no 1uestion about the identity of the kin! to 0ho2 it 0as addressed. 4he title to the letter bears the na2e ofArta7er7es ?vs. ..@" 0ho allo0ed a !rou of He0s to return to Hudea. 4he He0s had sto ed to see the !overnors on their 0ay to Herusale2 ?cf. ENra (=.% 0ith ;=*9@. 4his infor2ation fits 0ell 0ith the authoriNation !iven to ENra to dra0 u on the treasuries of the 0estern rovinces. /ndoubtedly" the 0estern !overnors 0ere saddened that their resources had been de leted by authoriNation fro2 the kin!. Jhen they 0rote their letter" finances 0ere u er2ost in their 2inds. After sto in! for their official visit 0ith the !overnors the returnin! He0s had !one on to Herusale2. 4he city of Herusale2 is 2entioned by na2e in ENra (=.% and its character is described rather e7tensively by the !overnors in their re ort. 4he only 1uestion is" 0hat !rou of He0s is under discussionS 4he book of ENra rovides the ans0er. ENra brou!ht a !rou of He0s back fro2 Babylon under authoriNation fro2 Arta7er7es. 4he !overnors then re orted to the kin! that a !rou of He0ish returnees had co2e to the2 and !one on to Herusale2. Because no other officially authoriNed return of He0s is kno0n in the 8ersian eriod since the ti2e of Cyrus" and certainly no other is kno0n to have taken lace in the rei!n ofArta7er7es" this !rou is un1uestionably the He0s 0ho returned 0ith ENra. 4he only 0ay that one can avoid such a conclusion is to osit so2ebody Hust like ENra doin! the sa2e 0ork that ENra did. Such conLecturin! is unnecessary. 4he lo!ical conclusion that ENra and his returnees are the !rou referred to here has been hinted at obli1uely by other scholars. For e7a2 le" I. J. Batten states"
Je note that the He0s here denounced are recent arrivals. 4here 2ust therefore have been an e7tensive 2i!ration in the ti2e ofArta7er7es" of 0hich 0e have no other record TsicVU. Fro2 their undertakin!s the co2 any 2ust have been a lar!e one.

5 Z. . Batten!

3ritical and 16e0etical 3o++entary on the Books of 1kra and Nehe+iah '+din{urJ ! 1.13]! 173. *;.

A endi7 B F. C. Fensha2 notes that Pthe reference to a 2i!ration in E .% robably refers to a return of certain He0s before 5ehe2iah.P9 6ne of the reasons 0hy so2e scholars have been loathe to acce t ENra as the leader of this !rou of returnees has to do 0ith the lon!-discussed 1uestion of the se1uence of ENra and 5ehe2iah. $id ENra recede 5ehe-2iah or did 5ehe2iah recede ENraS Scholars unsure of the ans0er to this 1uestion are" of course" unsure about the identity of the !rou that receded 5ehe2iah back to Herusale2 durin! the rei!n of Arta7er7es. But if one a!rees to the idea that ENra receded 5ehe2iah" then ENra and his fello0 returnees are the only lo!ical candidates to fit the te7t. 4he se1uence of ENra and 5ehe2iah is too lar!e a 1uestion to be discussed here. : Suffice it to say that the traditional" classical" and canonical order of ENra follo0ed by 5ehe2iah is acce ted and utiliNed here. 4he 8ersian eriod history is described fro2 its be!innin!s in ENra but 5ehe2iah discusses only his o0n e7 eriences durin! the rei!n of an Arta7er7es" the sa2e na2e of the kin! 0ith 0ho2 the book of ENra ends. And 5ehe2iah uses a date later in the rei!n of that kin! accordin! to the re!nal year nu2ber. 4his also 2akes !ood sense out of the references to ENra in the book of 5ehe2iah ?;=."%" (" +" 9"'" .*" RS3A and '=9" IDD@. If one reverses the order of these t0o 2en" these references and this narrative needs to be e2ended or chan!ed in so2e other fashion. 4he lo!ical and direct inter retation of the data is that ENra returned before 5ehe2iah did and 0as resent for the events of 5ehe2iah ; and '. 4he book of ENra tells ho0 he ca2e to be there beforehand. Jith this order a lied to the events described in ENra (=.%-%* ?but not includin! verse %(@" ENra no0 beco2es the erson 0ho led out in the reconstruction of the city of Herusale2 u on the return of the 0ave of e7iles 0ho ca2e 0ith hi2 durin! the rei!n of Arta7er7es I" before the ti2e of 5ehe2iah. Reconstructin! these events in this 0ay" ho0ever" creates so2ethin! of a roble2 in the order of the te7t. 4he return of the He0s under ENra is described in cha ters : and ; but their rebuildin! of the city is described in cha ter (. Jhy are thin!s out of order like thisS It should be ointed out that there is 2ore than one 0ay in 0hich to or!aniNe a book" biblical or other0ise" and an author does not al0ays have to subscribe to the strictly chronolo!ical a roach. He 2i!ht also follo0 a
9 F. C. 8ensha2" The Boo.s o" E2ra an$ Nehemiah ?Grand Ra ids" .';%@" :*. < I%id*' 9-'. 4he literature on this subLect is e7tensive and cannot be cited in detail. For one study a2on! 2any that u holds the traditional order of ENra-5ehe2iah see C. G. 4uland" PENra5ehe2iah or 5ehe2iah-ENraSP>iu, .% ?.':(@= (:-9%. 3"2

A endi7 R to ical a roach. And this is 0hat has ha ened here. 4here is a arenthesis bet0een ENra (=+ and (=%(-+=.. 4he arenthesis continues its o0n recital alon! chronolo!ical lines" the to ic or subto ic bein! o osition to the He0s. 4his o osition is cited first for the rei!n of Cyrus in ENra (=.-+" then for the rei!n ofAhasuerus ?or Der7es@ in ENra (=9" then for the rei!n of Arta7er7es in ENra (=:-%*. 4hen 0ith ENra (=%( the narrative returns to the ti2e of $ariusKbet0een the ti2es of Cyrus and Ahasuerus. 4he to ic treated in this subsection ?ENra (@ is o osition to the He0s. 4he o osition is in the first case to rebuildin! the te2 le ?ti2e of Cyrus@" then a 2ore !eneral o osition ?ti2e of Der7es@" and finally an o osition to buildin! the city of Herusale2 ?ti2e of Arta7er7es@. Fensha2 has !iven a nice evaluation of this roble2" in his state2ent= In s ite o, this Tthe chronolo!ical order o, &ersian #in!s in c$apter (U" Rudolp$ resu2es that t$e C$ronicler $ad no idea of t$e $istorical se1uence of the &ersian #in!s and mentioned typical names ($ic$ are accidentally correct c$ronolo!ically* Rudolp$ arrives at t$is conclusion %ecause of t$e sudden s(itc$ to Darius in (=%(. * . * T$us it is understanda%le t$at 2odern scholars" reasonin! ,rom t$eir o(n lo!ic" should re!ard t$e historical reliability o, t$is cha ter (it$ suspicion* "ut t$ere is another kind of per,ectly le!iti2ate lo!ic to the reasonin! o, t$e aut$or o, t$is c$apter; $e is referrin! in t$is c$apter in c$ronolo!ical order to t$e $indrances placed in the (ay o, Be(s to re%uild t$e te2 le and t$e (all of Herusale2. Jhen $e discussed t$e pro%lems o, the %uildin! of t$e te2 le in (=.-+" it reminded $im of later similar trou%les (it$ the rebuildin! of t$e (all o, Berusalem' and so (=9-%* $as been inserted" almost parent$etically' %e,ore the ar!ument o, t$e %uildin! o, t$e te2 le $as a!ain %een taken up on (=%(ff. Ealready noted %y C- 1* Deil in t$e last centuryH* T$us t$ere is a erfectly !ood e planation as to ($y t$e decree and t$e return are descri%ed in cha ters : and ; but t$e re%uildin! underta#en by the very sa2e eo le ($o returned in these c$apters is descri%ed in c$apter :* T$ere is no conflict. T$e c$apter arran!ement merely reflects the aut$or9s decision to treat his 2aterials in a topical rat$er t$an in a strictly c$ronolo!ical manner* 40o final 1uestions about these events arise before 0e turn to 2ore s ecifically chronolo!ical 2atters. 4he first 1uestion is" Jhy did ENra undertake the rebuildin! of the city 0hen it 0as not 2entioned s ecifically in the authoriNin! decree fro2 Arta7er7esS 4he second 1uestion is" Jhy
" Fen0 am! The Books of 1kra and Nehe+iah, 6.#7$.

3"3

A endi7 B did Arta7er7es sto the rebuildin! if he authoriNed it and 0as so favorable to ENraS In ans0erin! the first 1uestion 0e can si2 ly su ly the historical roof. ENra (=.%" .* indicates that ENra did indeed !o ahead and undertake the rebuildin!. He a ears to have 2ade no effort to conceal 0hat he 0as doin!. He did not do it surre titiously but in full vie0 of the 0estern !overnors. Given the o en nature of the roLect" one can only say that ENra understood that the rebuildin! fell 0ithin the Lurisdiction of the authoriNation !iven to hi2. As conscientious an observer of the la0 of God as he 0asKand even Arta7er7es noted this ointKhe 2ade no atte2 t to deceive anyone in re!ard to 0hat 0as bein! carried out. ENra had been !ranted le!al and Ludicial courtroo2 authority ?ENra :=%+" %9@ 0hich needed to involve the establish2ent of laces of Lud!2ent. Such laces 0ere ty ically the P!atesP of the city 0all 0here the Lud!es 2et for their Lud!2ent activities. 4here see2s to be here a clear indication that ENra 2ust have rovided the buildin! facilities 0here ro er civil Ludicial activities 0ere to be carried out. Herusale2 0as also a reli!ious recinct surroundin! the te2 le area in a sense" and ENraGs authority over le!al reli!ious 2atters see2s to have to include also the reconstruction of Herusale2. E* Response o, t$e #in!* Jhat kind of kin! 0as Arta7er7es" 0ho reversed his o0n decreeS Historians describe hi2 as t0o-faced. 8robably the classic e7a2 le of his du licity occurred in the dis osition of Inarus" 0ho rebelled a!ainst hi2 in E!y t. After Inarus 0as defeated and ca tured by Arta7er7esG !eneral" #e!abyNus" in (+( B.C." Arta7er7es ro2ised hi2 safe conduct to 8ersia and assured hi2 that he 0ould not be e7ecuted. Arta7er7es honored this ro2ise for so2e five years but eventually" at the leadin! of the Cueen #other A2estris" he had Inarus i2 aled. #e!abyNus 0as so u set at the kin!Gs erfidy that he raised a revolt l Syria.'

C$ronolo!y
8e no0 turn to the 1uestion of the chronolo!y of the events involved. 6nce the chronolo!ical issues are settled a direct calculation of the date for the #essiah can be ro osed and history can be e7a2ined to see 0ho fits. 4he date for the be!innin! of this eriod of the ro hecy 2ust coin1 A. T. 9lJstcad, 9istory of the !ersian Empire Q3hica/o. 11H 7, 3: "31!. 3 H

Appendix _

cide 0ith the !oin! forth or issuin! of the 0ord or decree that led to the co22ence2ent of the reconstruction of Herusale2. Accordin! to the inter retations discussed above" the decree that led to that co22ence2ent can be identified as the decree that Arta7er7es I !ave to ENra. 5o0 that decree needs to be dated. 4he narrative connected 0ith it indicates that ENra and his fello0 returnees left Babylon on the first day of the first 2onth of Arta7er7esG seventh year ?ENra :='@" or .>.>:. After a Lourney of four 2onths they ca2e to Herusale2 on the first day of the fifth 2onth of the seventh year ?vs. .&@" or 3>l>:. 40o 2ain issues are involved here= ?.@ absolute dates for the rei!n of Arta7er7es" and ?%@ the kind of calendar accordin! to 0hich these dates 0ere reckoned. A* Re!nal years o, Arta er es* Absolute dates for the rei!n of Arta7er7es I can be established throu!h kno0led!e of the dates for the t0o recedin! kin!s" $arius I and Der7es. 4he dates for those kin!s are 0ell kno0n because both 2en conducted invasions of Greece and Greek historians dated their rei!ns in ter2s of the 0ell-understood 6ly2 iad datin! syste2. In addition 0e have sources fro2 the Ancient 5ear East 0hich include a yri fro2 E!y t dated to the rei!n of Arta7er7es and a constant flo0 of contract tablets 0ritten in cuneifor2 0hen Babylonia 0as under 8ersian control. Je also have 8tole2yGs Canon" in 0hich the rei!ns of ancient kin!s back to the 2id-ei!hth century B.C" 0ere dated and fi7ed by 2eans of ecli ses and astrono2ical-2athe2atical calculations. In other 0ords" 0e are in a very !ood osition to !ive an accurate fi7 to the dates for Der7es and of his son Arta7er7es" 0ho follo0ed hi2. 6* Classical historical sources* Je 0ill start 0ith so2e of the latest sources and 0ork our 0ay back0ards. At least half a doNen classical ?GrecoRo2an@ historians 2ention so2ethin! about the ti2e or circu2stances surroundin! the death of Der7es. 4he Greek historian Ctesias tells us the 2ost about the circu2stances involvin! Der7esG 2urder by Arta-banus" but he does not date the event recisely. .& $iodorus of Sicily !ives us the 2ore recise date for those events" datin! both by the Athenian archonshi and the Ro2an consular year. 4hese t0o ty es of years overla to indicate that Der7es 0as 2urdered so2eti2e durin! the last half of the Hulian year (9+ B.C... A* An E!yptian astronomical source* Because the E!y tian solar calendar 0as one-fourth day short of a true solar year it advanced re!ularly
.& 4ersi!a, %'-*.. 66 Diodorus Siculus" id. 9'..-9.

3"5

A endi7 B in relation to the Hulian years used to calculate B.C. dates. 4his feature has been used by 2odern historians to 0ork out ancient E!y tian dates by fi!urin! back0ards in the E!y tian calendar. It 0as used also by the astrono2er 8tole2y in his lmagest..% For the year in 0hich Der7es died" (9+ B.C." the E!y tian 5e0 MearGs day" 4hoth ." fell on our $ece2ber .:. If Der7es died before $ece2ber .:" then Arta7er7esG second re!nal year 0ould have be!un on that dayA but instead" Arta7er7esG first year be!an on $ece2ber .:" and this 2eansKaccordin! to the E!y tian syste2Kthat Der7es died bet0een $ece2ber .: and the 8ersian Babylonian S rin! 5e0 Mear" 5isanu ." in the s rin!. 2* "a%ylonian astrono2ical source. 4he Babylonians 0ere a0are that solar and lunar ecli ses re eated the2selves al2ost e7actly in cycles of .; years. Ancient astrono2ers called these eriods PSaros cycles.P Cuneifor2 tablets recordin! Saros cycles in ter2s of the years of rei!nin! kin!s are kno0n fro2 the Hellenistic eriod. .* 4ables derived fro2 these tablets 2easure off these cycles fro2 the ninth year of Der7es to the si7th year of Arta7er7es to the t0enty-fourth year of Arta7er7es. Aside fro2 the fact that 2odern astrono2ers can deter2ine 0hen these astrono2ical heno2ena took lace" they also 2easure off for us the nu2ber of years bet0een these re!nal dates. In this 0ay this cycle dates the .; years bet0een the ninth year of Der7es and the si7th year of Arta7er7es to the s an bet0een (:: B.C. and (+' B.C. 4his fi7es the year of Der7esG death and Arta7er7esG accession in (9+ B.C. :* E!ypto-Be(is$ $istorical sources* 8a yri fro2 the fifth century B.C 0ritten in Ara2aic by He0ish 2ilitary 2ercenaries in 8ersian e2 loy on the island of Ele hantine in E!y t su ly us 0ith additional valuable historical and chronolo!ical infor2ation. 4hese docu2ents carry dates in ter2s of both of the overla in! E!y tian and 8ersian-Babylonian calendars. 4he 2athe2atical Lunctures at 0hich these t0o variable calendars intersect 0ith double dates hel to fi7 the dates for the rei!ns of the kin!s durin! 0hich these docu2ents 0ere 0ritten. A case of s ecial i2 ortance here is Co0ley 8a yrus 5o. 9" 0hich 0as dated to both the t0enty-first ?and last@ year of Der7es and to the accession year of Arta7er7es..( 4he
.% For an e7tended treat2ent of 8tole2y and other 0orks in relation to this roble2 sec B* Neu,,cr' T$e Accession o,Arta cnccs %,!!'(SS = ?.'9;@= 9&-;:62 "asic studies of t$e Saros tablets 2ay be found in H. 5. Strass2aier" PEini!e chronolo!ische Daten aus astrono2ischen Rcchnun!cn"P a: : ?.;'%@= .':-%&(" and id** 5aur Chronolo!ic dcr Seleu-dden"P G' ; ?.;'*@A .&9-..*. 6: A. " Co0ley" ramai! 4apyri o"the Ri"th (entury .C. ?67ford= .'%*@. 8a yrus 5o. 9 a ears on pp* 63-6= of this 0ork.

3"6

A endi7 B

day and 2onth dates utiliNed in this docu2ent fi7 its 0ritin! to Hanuary %" (9( B.C. 4his te7t itself indicates that Der7esB death had been re orted in E!y t by that ti2e. Since the 8ersian P ony e7 ressBG ty e of courier syste2 0as in effect by that ti2e" the delivery of that ne0s in E!y t 2ay be located late in (9+ B.C. 4his su orts the other indications that Der7es died late in that year" to0ard the very end of (9+ B.C. ?In the revious section 0e revie0ed evidence that he died after $ece2ber .:"(9+ B.C.@ 3* "a%ylonian $istorical sources* 4he flo0 of contract tablets fro2 Babylonian scribes continued under the 8ersian kin!s" but our sources have a tendency to thin out to0ard the later 8ersian kin!s of that eriod. 4hus these tablets have not been as hel ful as one 0ould 0ish in ter2s of innin! do0n the recise date of the transition bet0een Der7es and Arta7er7es" in s ite of the recent ublication of additional collections of these tablets .+ and of catalo!s of un ublished collections of these tablets. .9 4hey do" ho0ever" abundantly confir2 the reviously established attern 0hich indicates that (9+ B.C. 0as the t0enty-first and last year of Der7es and that Arta7er7es IGs first full re!nal year be!an in 5isanu . in the s rin! of (9( B.C. Recent ublication of astrono2ical tablets fro2 the eleventh and t0enty-fourth years of Arta7er7es I have rovided even 2ore recise su ort for that sa2e chronolo!ical attern .: 6* Summary on Arta er es9 re!nal dates* In su22ary" 0e can say that there are a nu2ber of very i2 ortant chronolo!ical lines 0hich focus on datin! the re!nal years of Der7es and those of his son Arta7er7es I. A kno0led!e of these dates 0as never lost" because they 0ere reserved by the classical historians of Greece and Ro2e and in the tables of 8tole2yGs lmagest. 4hese docu2ents indicate clearly that (9+ B.C. 0as the t0enty-first and last year of Der7es and that (9( B.C. 0as the first full official year of Arta7er7es I. Archeolo!ical discoveries fro2 late in the nineteenth century and fro2 this resent century have rovided a2 le confir2ation of the accuracy of those calculations. Su ort for these dates has been found in the Ele hantine a yri and in a 2ore !eneral but still stron!ly accurate
.+ (unei"orm Te0ts Rrom the Babylonian Tablets in the British )useum, vols. ++"+9" and +: ?Iondon" .';%@. 4hese three volu2es resent an e7tensive collection of reviously un ublished 5eoBabylonian tablets. .9 4he 2assive Si ar collection of 5co-Babytonian contract tablets has no0 been catalo!ued" but 2ost of the tablets re2ain un ublished. For the catalo! see E. Ieichty" (atalogue o" the Babylonian Tablets in the British )useum, voJ VI, Tablets "rom Sippar I ?Iondon" .';9@A and E. Ieichty and A. F. Grayson" ibid." voJ VII, Tablets Rrom Sippar % ?Iondon" .';:@. .: A. H. Sachs and H. Hun!er" stronomi!al &iaries an$ Relate$ Te0ts Rrom Babylonia, K?e I, &iaries Rrom =I< to <=< B.(. ?3ienna" .';;@. 3"7

A endi7 B 0ay in the Saros tablets and the co2 ilation of Babylonian contract tablets fro2 the 8ersian eriod. 4here need be no doubt for anyone fa2iliar 0ith the available chronolo!ical sources that 0e have the re!nal years of Ar-ta7er7es I accurately fi7ed. Indeed" the dates are so 0ell set in the ce2ent of these sources that it is hard to i2a!ine any kind of future discovery that could ossibly 2ove the2. "* T$e calendar for calculation o, t$e #in!9s years* Havin! established the absolute dates for the rei!n ofArta7er7es" 0e co2e no0 to the oint of ho0 the He0s of ENraGs ti2e used conte2 orary datin! 2ethods. ENra" livin! under this sa2e Arta7er7es as a citiNen of Babylonia" kne0 very 0ell 0hen Der7es 0as killed and 0hen Arta7er7es took the throne. 4hus" 0hen he dated his o0n return to Hudea in the seventh year ofArta7er7es ?ENra :@" he 0as 2akin! use of this livin!" active" and on!oin! chronolo!ical infor2ation. 4he only 1uestion is 0hether he used that infor2ation" accordin! to the 8ersian and Babylonian syste2 of datin!" or accordin! to his o0n He0ish calendar. 4he difference can be illustrated 1uite si2 ly. 4he Babylonian calendar year be!an 0ith the 2onth of 5isanu ?He0ish 5isan@ in the s rin! of the year" #arch-A ril in our calendar. If ENra follo0ed the Babylonian syste2" 0hich continued to be used by the 8ersian kin!s" he dated the re!nal years of Arta7er7es" includin! the seventh year 2entioned in ENra :" as be!innin! in the s rin!. By 0ay of contrast" there 0as the He0ish civil calendar 0hich be!an in the fall 0ith 4ishri . ?4ashritu of the Babylonians@. In the case 0hich 0e are considerin!" this rovides us 0ith a difference of 9 2onths. If ENra be!an Arta7er7esG years accordin! to the 8ersian Babylonian syste2 then his first re!nal year of Arta7er7es be!an in the s rin! of (9( B.C. But if ENra be!an Arta7er7esG years accordin! to the He0ish civil year then his first year be!an in the fall of (9( B.C. In both syste2s a kin!Gs first regnalyear be!an on the syste2Gs 5e0 MearGs day. 4he eriod bet0een the 2o2ent 0hen a kin! died and a ne0 kin! officially ca2e to the throne on his first 5e0 MearGs day 0as kno0n as his a!!ession year. In ENra and 5ehe2iah 0e are dealin! 0ith re!nal years only. 4hese considerations affect the date for the be!innin! of the seventy-0eek ro hecy" because 0e have looked to the decree of ENra : as re resentin! the !oin! forth of the P0ordP in res onse to 0hich the reconstruction of the city of Herusale2 be!an. ENra says that he left Babylon on .>.>: of Arta7er7es and arrived in Herusale2 four 2onths later" on 3>l>: of Arta7er7es. ?See ENra :=:-'.@ If he !ave these dates accordin! to the 3""

A endi7 B

8ersian-Babylonian s rin!-to-s rin! year" then they fell in the s rin! and su22er of the year (+; B.C. 4he decree 0ould then have been !iven before 5isan . of (+; B.C." or so2eti2e in the si7th year of Arta7er7es" (+'-(+; B.C. But if these events are calculated accordin! to the He0ish civil year" 0hich be!an 0ith 4ishri . in the fall of (+; B.C." then the decree 0ould robably have been !iven durin! that 0inter of (+;-(+: B.C." and the Hourney took lace durin! the s rin! and su22er of (+: B.C. ?In the case of the fall-to-fall year" the 2onth nu2bers do not chan!e. 4hey run

wx' wRx' \" " \" Zx' R' x' in* iv' y 3I@

4he 2atter 2ay be boiled do0n to the fact that" if ENra 0as usin! the 8ersian-Babylonian calendar" the decree and the return occurred in (+; B.C.A 0hereas" if the decree and the return 0ere dated by ENra accordin! to the He0ish civil year" they fell in (+: B.C. Jhich of these t0o alternatives is correct and 0hyS 4he over0hel2in! evidence is in favor of ENraGs use of the He0ish fall calendar" as the ara!ra hs belo0 0ill reveal. 6* T$e Be(is$ ,all calendar durin! t$e united monarc$y* First" it should be noted that there 0ere t0o calendars in use in ancient Israel" the reli!ious calendar that be!an ?like the Babylonian calendar@ in the s rin!" and the civil calendar that be!an in the fall. 4he He0ish ne0 year of Rosh Hashanah" that survives in the litur!ical calendar of syna!o!ues today" is a survival of the civil calendar. 4he use of the fall calendar for civil or olitical ur oses !oes back to the ti2e of Solo2on. As E. R. 4hiele has sho0n so effectively" the re!nal years of Solo2on as they 0ere a lied to the record of buildin! his alace and the te2 le 0ere dated by a fall calendar. .; A* T$e Be(is$ ,all calendar durin! t$e divided monarc$y* Jhen 0e co2 are to!ether the various synchronis2s and the re!nai year records in .-% Fin!s" 0e see that the use of the fall calendar redo2inated in the south" in the kin!do2 ofHudah" 0hile the s rin! calendar 0as 2ore co22only used in the northern kin!do2 of Israel..' 2* T$e Be(is$ ,all calendar at t$e end o, t$e divided 2onarchy. 4he use of the fall calendar in Hudah can be elucidated 0ith s ecial detail at the end of the kin!do2 of Hudah" durin! the years of its last kin!s as they 0ent do0n to defeat at the hands of 5ebuchadneNNar and his troo s fro2 Babylon. 4he use of a fall calendar in these records of % Fin!s can be de2onstrated es ecially 0ell because the biblical te7t !ives not only the
.; T$e biblical te ts involved are . Fin!s 9=."*:-*'A :=.. 1or a detailed discussion o, t$e dates in t$ese passa!es and t$e 0ay in 0hich t$ey fit a fall calendar %etter than a s rin! calendar see E* R* T$ietc' The )ysterious Numbers o" the Hebrew Fin$s E0rand Rapids' .'9+@" %;-*&. .' I%id*' .;.%&"*&.

3".

A endi7 B

years of the kin!s of Hudah involved" but it also !ives so2e references to the years of kin! 5ebuchadneNNar. Jith the ublication of 5ebuchadneNNarGs o0n royal chronicles do0n to the year +'* B.C." %& the dates in the Bible and in those chronicles can be co2 ared. Jhen such a co2 arison is carried out" it can be de2onstrated that the 0riter of % Fin!s 0as indeed usin! the fall calendar of the Be(s to calculate these dates.K6nly in such a (ay can these biblical and e7trabiblical dates be har2oniNed. The use of the fall calendar for the civil or re!nal years of the kin!s 0ho rei!ned in Herusale2 can be de2onstrated at the outset fro2 the biblical dates for Solo2on. 4heir use continued throu!h the divided 2onarchy" as de2onstrated by the synchronis2s in the biblical record" and they are readily evident as checked 0ith an e7trabiblical source at the end of the Hudahite 2onarchy. :* T$e Be(is$ ,all calendar durin! t$e Babylonian e7ile. 4he fall calendar continued in use a2on! the He0s in e7ile in Babylon. 4his is evident fro2 the syste2 of datin! e2 loyed in the book of ENekiel" the ro het 0ho 0rote fro2 e7ile in Babylon. He did not date his visions saccordin! to the re!nal years of the Babylonian kin!s under 0ho2 he lived" but rather dated the2 accordin! to the years of the e7ile of the He0s. 4his is a arent fro2 the date in the title to the book found in ENekiel .=%A ;=.A (&=.. 3* T$e Be(is$ ,all calendar a,ter t$e "a%ylonian e ile* Je co2e no0 to ENra hi2self. Is there any evidence fro2 his book that he used a fall calendarS unfortunately" there is notA ho0ever" 0e have recisely that kind of infor2ation in 5ehe2iah ."%. Because 5ehe2iah 0as a conte2 orary and co2 atriot of ENraGs" the use of a fall calendar in 5ehe2iahGs book can be taken as stron! evidence that ENra used it too. Jhat then is the evidence for the fall calendar in 5ehe2iahS In the first cha ter of 5ehe2iah 0e are resented 0ith circu2stances in 0hich 5ehe2iah found hi2self at the court of Arta7er7es. He had received recent ne0s that Herusale2 had been da2a!ed and burned. ?See 5eh .=.-*.@ Je should e2 hasiNe that this 0as recent ne0s about recent events. 5ehe2iah 0as not talkin! about 0hat 5ebuchadneNNar did to the city 2ore than a century before.
!:S.*. i0cman! 3hronicles of 3haldean lin0s "(,('&&( B?3?* in the British buseu+ 'Zondon! 11617. A6 S* f- +orn' 5T$e "a%ylonian Chronicle and the Ancient Calendar of the Fin!do2 of Hudah"P '(SSH ?.'9:@= %*A A' #ala2at" PA 5e0 Record of 5ebuchadneNNarGs 8alestinian Ca2 ai!ns"P +2J 9?.'+9@= .(;" 31:

A endi7 R I, (e understand that EFra $ad already !otten the reconstruction of t$e city under0ay 0hen $e returned Esee EFra (=.%-.9@" t$en so2e later assault upon t$e city 0ould %e ($at 5ehe2iah (as concerned about. Seein! 5ehe2iahGs distress' t$e #in! inIuired a%out its cause* 8$en $e ,ound out' t$e #in! aut$oriFed $im to !o to Berusalem and tend to the matters t$ere hi2self. 6f chronolo!ical interest in this narrative is the 0ay in 0hich the t0o dates involved are stated. 5ehe2iah .=. dates 5ehe2iahGs recei t of the ne0s concernin! Herusale2 in the ninth 2onth of Arta7er7es . t0entieth year. 4he authoriNation !iven to 5ehe2iah to attend to these 2atters 0as of course !iven later" yet accordin! to 5ehe2iah %=. it 0as !iven in tHHe "irst 2onth of the sa2e t0entieth year of Arta7er7esV 4here can be only one 0ay in 0hich to e7 lain these dates historically as they stand" that is" that they 0ere reckoned u on the basis of a fall-to-fall year 0hich be!an in the seventh 2onthKfor as 0e noticed a fe0 ara!ra hs a!o" in the fall-to-fall year the nu2ber of the 2onths ran 3II 3III" ID" /' DI" DII" I" II" III" I3" 3" 3I. 4hus in the fallto-fall year the first 2onth ca2e si7 2onths a"ter the seventh 2onth. As t$e te7t stands" and t$is is the basis upon ($ic$ scholars should dra( t$eir conclusions' t$ese dates in 5ehe2iah ."% present t$e stron!est possi%le evidence t$at Ne$emia$ used a ,all-to-,all calendar' and t$at' t$ere,ore' it is most reasona%le to conclude t$at his contemporary collea!ue ENra did too. 6* T$e Be(is$ ,all calendar durin! t$e contemporary E!yptian e ile* A final su le2entary line of evidence is found in the Ele hantine a yri" a second batch of 0hich 0as ublished in .'+*. A2on! these a yri is one 0hich has direct i2 lications for the ty e of re!nal year that 0as e2 loyed by He0s 0ho served in E!y t. Fraelin! a yrus 5o. 9 contains dates 0hich locate it in the 2onth 4a22uN" the fourth 2onth of the He0ish year ?or Huly@ (%& B.C. Fraelin! a yrus 5o. : is dated to 4ishri ?or 6ctober@ of the sa2e year (%& B.C. But the re!nal year nu2ber of $arius II" under 0ho2 these te7ts 0ere 0ritten" chan!es bet0een the te7ts fro2 year * of the Huly a yrus to year ( of the 6ctober a yrus. 4his chan!e 2eans that the year nu2ber of the kin!" accordin! to the usa!e of the eo le 0ho 0rote these a yri" chan!ed at the fall ne0 year of 4ishri . rather than of the s rin! ne0 year of 5isan .. 4his has been e7a2ined and e7 lained in detail by Sie!fried Horn%% in
%% S. +* +orn and I. H. Jood" The (hronology o" Eva P ?Jashin!ton" DC' .'+*@.

*'.

A endi7 B his study of these and related te7ts. 4hus" 0hile EFra and 5ehe2iah used the He0ish fall calendar in their docu2ents" other Be(s e iled in E!ypt (ere also usin! it a 1uarter of a century later in their art of the dias ora. <* Summary o, t$e use o, t$e Be(is$ ,all calendar* 4o su22ariNe" it 2ay be noted that the Hebre0 2onarchy started out usin! the fall calendar for the re!nal years of Solo2on and continued to use it in the kin!do2 of Hudah. Its use is s ecifically de2onstrated by a co2 arison bet0een % Fin!s and e7trabiblical docu2ents at the end of the 2onarchy. He0s carried the fall calendar into e7ile 0ith the2 into Babylon and continued to use it there" as evidenced by the dates in ENekiel. In the oste7ilic eriod 5ehe2iah" ENraGs fello0 0orker" rovides direct te7tual evidence of the use of this kind of calendar. 6ther e7iles else0here also continued to use the sa2e fall calendar. 4hus the conclusion that ENra used a fall-to-fall calendar for the dates in his book rests u on very solid !round. 4his 2eans that Pthe seventh year of Arta7er7esP in ENra : is (+: B.C. rather than (+; B.C. as 0ould be su!!ested if he had been usin! a s rin! calendar. C* Conclusions on c$ronolo!y* 4hrou!h these t0o chronolo!ical rocedures" a search for an absolute date for the re!nal years of Arta7er7es and an e7a2ination of the 1uestion of 0hich kind of calendar ENra used" 0e have arrived at (+: B.C. as the date for the decree of Arta7er7es in ENra :. Because this 0as the decree 0hich led to the co22ence2ent of the reconstruction of the city of Herusale2" 0e have co2e to an absolute date for the s ecification for the ro hecy of $aniel '=%+. 4hat assa!e 2ay no0 be ara hrased to identify its startin! oint as" PFro2 the !oin! forth of the 0ord ?the decree of Arta7er7es I@ to restore and to rebuild Herusale2 ?by ENra accordin! to the decree of ENra : and the actions of ENra (@"in(+:B.C...P D* Ne$emia$9s decree* 40o final oints need to be 2ade in relation to the PdecreeP to 5ehe2iah recorded in 5ehe2iah %. 4he first has to do 0ith its relationshi to the antecedent decree of ENra. Actually" this later co22unication 0as not 1uite on the sa2e level as the official decree !iven earlier to ENra. 5ehe2iah 0as !iven a letter that authoriNed hi2 to receive reco!nition and assistance for the tasks that the kin! er2itted hi2 to erfor2. It had the net effect of a decree" but it 0as not 1uite the sa2e thin!. 4he relation bet0een the t0o co22unications 0as that of initial authoriNation and su le2entary authoriNation. Jhat ENra started 0as taken u and carried to artial co2 letion by 5ehe2iah. As in the recedin! case of CyrusG initial decree in ENra . and $ariusG su le2entary authoriNation in ENra 9" Arta7er7esG t0o decrees in ENra : and 5ehe2iah % can be seen
3.2

)) )))

A endi7 B

as a air. In both cases" the initial decree led to the co22ence2ent of the roLect" but both reconstruction roLects re1uired su le2entary authoriNation to co2 lete the2A 0ith the te2 le in the first case and the city in the second. E. Alternate interpretations* Because it really 0as the first decree of the second set" the one !iven to ENra in (+: B.C." 0hich led to the co22ence2ent of the construction of the city" is the decree to 0hich 0e should look for Fi7in! the oint for the start of the ro hetic and historical eriod outlined by $aniel. But so2e Evan!elical co22entators hold that 0e should 0ork instead fro2 the date of ((( B.C. ?the co22unication !iven to 5ehe2iah@ to be!in this eriod. In order for this eriod to redict 0hen Hesus of 5aNareth 0ould beco2e the #essiah" ho0ever" those be!innin! in ((( B.C. are forced to shorten it. A full (;* years fro2 ((( B.C. overshoots the 2inistry and death of Hesus by at least five years by al2ost any standard.K 4here is no 0ay to reconcile the date ((( B.C. and to have the ('& years ter2inate any0here close to the ti2e of Hesus ChristGs death.

Conclusion
Jhen the rocedures described above are carried out" it can be seen that the ro hecy of the 9' 0eeks" or the (;* full historical years of $aniel '" cul2inates in A.$. %:. 4he final 1uestion of this study is" Jhat do the 0ords Punto the #essiah the 8rinceP 2eanS 4hey should indicate the ti2e for the co2in! of the #essiah. It should be noted carefully 0hat a #essiah is. Accordin! to its verbal root" #essiah 2eans an anointed one. 4hus the #essiah is one 0ho is anointed. Before bein! anointed the erson involved 0as not fully the #essiah yet. 4hus 0e are not talkin! here about the ti2e of the #essiahGs birth or the ti2e of His deathA (e are talkin! about the ti2e 0hen He 0ould a ear as the #essiah. 4here is one erson and only one 0ho fulfills this re1uire2ent" and that is the one 0ho 0as anointed as the #essiah in A.$. %:KHesus of 5aNareth. His anointin! at the Hordan River by both Hohn the Ba tist and His heavenly Father" took lace in the fifteenth year of 4iberius Caesar accordin! to Iuke *=." %."
%* An e7cellent revie0 of ho0 evan!elical co22entators have handled these dates 0ith a criti1ue can be found in Gerhard F. Hasel" PInter retations of the Chronolo!y of the Seventy Jeeks"P in Seventy -.e.s, Jeviti!us, an$ the Nature o" 4rophe!y, $ARC6# Series" vol. *" ed. F. B. Holbrook ?Jashin!ton" $C= Biblical Research Institute" .';9@" *-9(" sec es ecially .(-%. for the ty e of calculations cited above.

3.3

A endi7 B %%. Jhile there are other ossible 0ays of reckonin! this re!nal year of 4iberius" it certainly is a reasonable and standard rocedure acce ted by 2any co22entators" chrono!ra hers" and historians to reckon it fro2 A.$. .%. /tiliNin! that rocedure and startin! fro2 the be!innin! oint established above in (+: B.C. lead us to one s ecific individual as the #essiah of this ro hecyKHesus Christ. In other 0ords" the establish2ent of (+: B.C. as the startin! oint of the :&-0eek ro hecy of $aniel ' is one of the stron!est indicators a2on! the 2essianic ro hecies of the 6ld 4esta2ent that Hesus truly 0as all that He clai2ed to be.

Inde
A Allusions' ;*-'( 54 sources" '%-'( 64 sources" ;*-'% direct" identifyin! and classi,ication' ;9-'( echoes" ;+-;9 Sanctuary ?2inistrations@" 66A-663 Seals %&'%.."%(&-%(% An!el ?Rev .&@" descri tion>identification" %;*-%'* historical fulfill2ent" *%%-*%+ si2ilarities to $an .& and .%"%'.-%'* A ocaly tic" overvie0" .%-%% co2 ared 0ith classical ro hecy" .:-.; !eneral features" .%-.' sym%olism o,' %%-%:":*-': vertical>horiNontal continuity" .(-.' repeated fulfill2ent issue" .'-%. conditionality issue" %.-%% " *Bookn0croll! little+ '`e_ 1$]! 2""#2".!316#322 3dentitE o/! 2."#2..!36.#371 3 C$arts Biblical ty olo!y= Overvie( of issues" .%: Chiastic structure of Revelation" *9-*: C$iastic structure o, the seals" %+&-%+. Chronolo!ical Relations ?Rev .&=9@" *.9 Envelo e structures' :% E odus-1rom-E!yptX1all-o,-"a%ylon #otif" 9: Festivals o, Leviticus %*= typolo!ical as ects in 54" .*& Fourfold esc$atolo!ical substructure o, ty olo!y" .%' 3.5

%( 1or the different 0ays in 0hich the re!nal years of 4iberius 0ere calculated see H. Fine!an" Han$boo. o" Bibl.al (hronology ?8rinceton" 5H" .'9(@" %+'-:%. 5ote that at least four or Five of the solutions discussed lead to A*D* %: as the date ,or the co22ence2ent of HesusG 2inistiy.

3.4

Location o, ti2e ele2ents in Daniel' **+ 64 allusions in Rev ("%(& OT allusions in Rev +"%(. OT allusions in Rev 9"%(% Overvie( of structure y content of Revelation' (;-('"+%-+* &arallelin! structures in t$e ei!ht maGor visions" *;-*' Recapitulation se1uences ERev (-.(@" 22 Seals X Syno tic A ocaly se co2 ared" .:' Syno tic allusions in Rev 9"%(* Typolo!ical inter retation o, OT' .%; Ver%al lin#s bet0een Dan ..=*. X 6A;66'**'"*(& Ver%al lin#s %et(een Dan ..=*%-*+ X .%=:-.&"**:"**; /nity o, Rev .*=.-.&"*+9 C$iasmus' literary arran!e2ent" %;-*;".;9-.;:" %('-%+% Conditionality' issue of" %.-%% Covenant' the2es>allusions ?Rev .-:@" %(9-%(' Curses' covenant" and the seals" %%%-%%("%(:-%(; D Daniel' book of" relationshi to Revelation" .*.-.(( 54 use of" .**-.*' $an %".**-.*9 San 7!136#137 San 1,137#13. RevelationGs allusions to" .*'-.(. Daniel' g. 0* JhiteGs use of" .(+-.9. Daniel ?'=%(@" 0hen did the :& 0eeks be!inS *:+-*'( Daniel ?.%=+-.*@" ti2e eriods" *%:-*(% DARCOM' re ort" issues in Revelation" .:+-.;. Discussions' current ?seals>tru2 ets@" .;*-.'; 1 1estivals' yearly cycle of" ..'-.%9".'&-.'% :3< "*C** veri,ied' *:+-*'( 1ul,illments' dual>2ulti le" issue of" .'-%.".+&-.+9"*%:-*9& 1uturism' 2ethod of" +-9".:+-.:9 applied to seals" %%;-%%' applied to time periods' **%-***"*(*-*(("*+.

3.6

0 0reat multitude and .(("&&&" vie0s on" %9:-%:%

` MistoricisJ, met od o/ 4#5!16#1.!175#176 a lied to first seal" %%'-%*& applied to time periods' ***-**("*(+-*(9"*+.-*+% g. G. JhiteGs use of. .(9-.+&".9. +istory' re eated ?not ro hecy@" .+&-.+(

Idealism' vie0 of ti2e eriods ?Rev .%@" *((-*(+ Interpretation' rinci les of" *-*(".::-.:; !eneral rules of" ;-..".::-.:; literary arran!e2ent" i2 act on" ..-.%"%;-:% 2ethods of" (-:".9-.' relations$ip to e e!esis X theolo!y" :-; sanctuary ty olo!y" insi!hts for" ''-.*& special rules ,or apocalyptic' ..-%:".::-.;. sy2bolis2" unlockin! for" %%-%:":*-': Interpreter' his>her use ofE. G. Jhite 0ritin!s" .9*-.:% basic rinci les" .99-.9' rinci les illustrated" .9'-.:% Introductory scenes' su22ary and si!nificance of" +.-:% relations$ip to su%seIuent messa!e' 666-667'.;:-.;;".'(-.'+

Berusalem statements' g. 0* JhiteGs" inter retation of" .+(-.+9 K Lan!ua!e' ro hetic" E. G. JhiteGs none7 ositional use of" .+9-.9& LinearXrecapitulation' se1uences" ..+-..9 Literary structures ?chias2us@" %;-*(".;9-.;:"%('-%+% ei!$t %asic visions" in' *+-(' ho0 deter2ined" *&-** sanctuary ty olo!y" involved in" ...-..' si!ni,icance ,or inter retation **-*(" ?:-se!2ent seIuence' .;:-.;;@" %&(-%&9" %('-%+%"*(9-*+&

3.7

o Messa!e' %y 2i!hty an!el" *&.-*%+


a

Oat$' an!elGs ?Rev .&@" %';-*&. .(("&&&" and !reat multitude' vie0s on" %9:-%:%

&reterism' 2ethod of" +".:+-.:9 applied to seals" %%:-%%; a lied to ti2e eriods" **&-**%"*(*"*+. &rop$ecy' classical" Pt0o fociP conce t" .:-.'
R

Revelation' book of" ur ose X the2e" %:-%; characteristics and settin! of" :(-;% current discussions on ?seals>tru2 ets@" .;*-.'; g. G. JhiteGs use of" .(+-.9. ei!ht basic visions" analysis of" *+-(' Revelation :-6' e7e!esis of" .''-%(* Revelation :" e7e!esis of" %(+-%:; Revelation .&" e7e!esis of" %:'-*%+ Revelation .%" e7e!esis of" *(%-*+& Revelation 62;6-6M' e7e!esis of" *+.-*+' Revelation' issues in" $ARC6# re ort" .:+-.;.

Sealin!' t$e' %+(-%+' characteristics of the sealed" %:%-%:+ Seals' ro hecy of" .:;-.;&".'%-.'*".''-%(*"*:.-*:* %rea#in! t$e seals' %%%-%*; chiastic structure of" %('-%+% covenant allusions in" %(;-%(' current discussions on" .'%-.'* introductory sanctuary scene" %&9-%%. ioneer consensusXne( interpretations' .;(-.;+ throne scene" location in ti2e" .'%-.'*"%&&-%&9"%%+-%%: Scroll' sealed" ?Rev +@" g. G. Jhite on" *9'-*:. Sym%olism' %%-%:":*-':
3."

Temple' i2a!ery" its si!nificance" 9(-99 T$unders' seven ?Rev .&@" %'*-%'; Time' no lon!er ?Rev .&@" ro hetic" *&%-*.9 Tri%ulation' t$e !reat' %+%-%+( Trumpets' ro hecy of" .;&-.;. current discussions on" .'(-.'; seal of God roble2 ?'=(@" .'9-.'; 4y olo!y" !eneral" characteristics of" .&.-.&% 4y olo!y" sanctuary" .&%-.*& festival cycles" ..'-.%9".;'-.'% introductory scenes" ...-..'".;:-.;'
I

Victorious introductions' analysis of" +.-:% Visions' ei!ht basic" analysis of their atterns" *;-('
F

8$ite' E* 0*' interpreters use o,' 662-6<A basic rinci les" .9*-.9' rinci les illustrated" .9'-.:% 8$ite' E* 0*' on Rev (9"*9*-*:* end-ti2e si!nificance of Rev +"*9+-*9; scroll ?Rev +@" *9'-*:. 8$ite' E* 0- use of $aniel X Revelation" .(+-.9.

3..

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