Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

/ 1 5 3

B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

C. NT apocalyptic: the book of Revelation

A Message Leading to the Person of Jesus Christ

1. The only true apocalypse in the NT (cf., Shepherd of Hermas , written by a Christian prophet)

The Bible did not originate in one piece as a doctrinal handbook or a manual of ethics. Rather, made up of diverse literary genres, it is a record of the history of special revelation, a history of which its own production (inscripturation . . . ) is a part. This long history begins as early as the garden of Eden and, after the fall, continues as God’s ongoing redemptive activity, accompanied by his own attesting and interpreting word, primarily in his covenantal dealings with Israel, until its culmination in the person and work of Christ. Biblical revelation, then, is essentially redemptive, or covenantal- historical, and the concern of biblical theology is to explore and clarify this historically progressive and differentiated character of special revelation. ~ R. B. Gaffin “New Testament Theology.” New Dictionary of Theology . Sinclair B. Ferguson, David Wright,

2. Belongs to the historical-eschatological tradition of Jewish apocalypses

3. Deals with God’s intent to alert his Church to the events about to take place, Rev. 1.1-3

4. Gives comprehensive revelation of the person and work of Jesus Christ, Rev. 1.7-18

5. Addresses the issues of judgment at the end of human history, Rev. 20.11-15

3

6. Employs mystical and imagistic language of metaphor, symbol, and fantasy, Rev. 12.14-16

7. Focuses on the importance of numbers and numbered sets to both structure and communicate the content of the message, e.g., Rev. 13.18; 21.12-14; 4.2-8

V. Three Interpretative Principles for the Prophetic and Apocalyptic Genre

A. Principle One: Focus on the person of Jesus Christ .

eds. (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988, p.463.