Before broaching into the Christology of
Revelation, let’s first discuss a few fundamental matters. First, the genre of
the book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature (apocalyptic comes from Greek
word apokalypsis meaning a revelation or a disclosure or uncovering from
God concerning the imminent coming of the end of this age and the final advent
of God’s kingdom. It is the very first word that opens the book, “The
revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants what must
soon take place.”
Secondly, various scholars suggest possible dates
for the apocalypse. Some date it during the reign of Claudius (A.D 41-54),
others during the administration of Nero (A.D 54-68) and others during Domitian
reign (A.D 81-96). “Irenaeus, who wrote in 190-200 CE, is the earliest extant
witness to the date of Revelation. He writes that the book was written near the
end of Domitian’s reign who was a Roman emperor from 81-96 CE (Slater, Thomas
B. 1999. Christ and Community: A Socio-Historical Study of the Christology
of Revelation. p. 22). In addition, “Price suggests that Domitian’s reign
corresponds the establishment of the imperial cult at Ephesus” (ibid).
Thirdly, the Book of revelation is addressed to
seven churches in Asia and in general the body of Christ in all generations and
all over the world-to rebuke compromise and sin and makes a clarion call to
repent; under the shadow of imperial persecution Revelation was given to the
churches to strengthen their faith and to inspire believers to remain faithful
even unto death; finally to reveal the events during the 7 years (Great
tribulation) preceding Christ’s second coming. The island of Patmos was the
place John received the visions.
Fourth, the content of Revelation seems to be a
medley of imagery and symbols. There is a progressive development of action
that pervades it from beginning to the end. I suppose the reason why many people
shun reading the book of Revelation is because of the difficult in
interpretations. There are four main types of interpretation that make attempts
to explain this book.
1. Preterist interpretation-views Revelation as
descriptive of the historic conditions of the Asian churches at the end of the
1st century.
2. Historicist interpretation- assumes that the
book of Revelation depicts the entire course of Christian history from the time
of John until the consummation of ages.
3. Idealist interpretation-assumes the visions of
the apocalypse are allegory not actual events.
4. Futurist interpretation-approaches chapter 4-22
as prophecy concerning events that will occur in the future.
Personally am of the futurist perspective because
undoubtedly a large segment of Revelation is intended to describe the future
“Come up hither, and I will show you what must soon take place (Rev.4:1).
As
a preterist; I shouldn’t forget that most biblical prophecy has both immediate
and a future application. As a Futurist view; I should not assume that I have “figured
out" the future. Jesus said that no one will know the day of his return
before it happens. As a Historicist; I
should be careful before identifying currents events or leaders as fulfilling
aspects of the book of Revelation. And as an Idealist, I should not avoid the
book completely because it is difficult. I should try to understand Revelation
within its broader literary context. Addition on genre, there
is much debate about the exact genre used in the book: 1. Some view it as
purely epistle that the primary method is that of a letter, though prophetic
material is given in the letter. 2. Others view it as Prophecy, thought it contains
7 individual letters, the primary literary form is that of prophecy similar to
the prophecies found in the OT. Reason being that the primary purpose of the
book was to describe events in the future. 3. Others believe this is
apocalyptic literature. However not everyone agrees on the definition of
apocalyptic literature. Although Ezekiel and Daniel and other OT prophets contain
some apocalyptic characteristics, they were written to offer assurances to
their readers that the Kingdom of God will triumph though there would be great
persecution and trouble in the meantime. Their worldview is nearly always
characterized by a dualistic conception of this present world and the world to
come. 4. It is generally thought that Revelation contains elements of all the 3
of this. It is certainly written in an epistolary format; it appears to contain
prophecy and it certainly contains some elements of apocalyptic literature from
that period time”
(Sammy Koech)
Fifth, the obvious emphasis or theology of this book
is eschatology (future events of the church in the divine plan). There is also
emphasis on the centrality of God’s throne, personality and God’s sovereignty;
Christology; the destinies of both the believer and non-believers are clearly
defined; angelology; demonic world of evil under domination of Satan and
finally personal spiritual experience. All the above doctrines are related to
the divine program.
It is my hope that the exposition of the book of
revelation will be a great blessing and we will be able to understand what God
is saying to us in this contemporary world.
Regards,
Kachel Nzaku Nashipae
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