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THE APOCALYPSE

THE APOCALYPSE. AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK’S HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION By Noel Platt. THE ANTI NICEAN AGE. Two main views of the Apocalypse were held during this period: (1) The Historicist view ( Historico-eschatological) view. Supported by Papias, Justin Martyr, Hippolytus, Irenaeus,

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THE APOCALYPSE

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  1. THE APOCALYPSE AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK’S HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION By Noel Platt

  2. THE ANTI NICEAN AGE • Two main views of the Apocalypse were held during this period: • (1) The Historicist view (Historico-eschatological) view. • Supported by Papias, Justin Martyr, Hippolytus, Irenaeus, • Revelation largely concerned with contemporary or imminent historical happenings but with some future elements. • Justin Martyr., ‘Dial. C. Tryph. 81 • Irenaeus., ‘Against Heresies V’ • Hypolytus., ‘On the Devil & Antichrist’ • (2) The Allegorical view. • Maintained by the Alexandrian School under Origen and Clement of Alexandria • Swete ,H.B., The Apocalypse of St. John, MacMillan & Co. (1911)

  3. THE ANTI NICEAN AGE • The First Latin Commentary. • Produced by Victorinus of Petau, in the third century. • The first to advocate the Nero Redivivus Myth – that the beast whose deadly wound was healed was Nero risen from the dead. • The first to set forth a RECAPITULATION theory – that Revelation repeats the same facts in different forms again & again under the seal, trumpet and bowl visions.

  4. THE FOURTH CENTURY TO THE REFORMATION. • Tyconius’ Commentary. • A systematic allegorical theory • Andreas’ Commentary. • Combined historical & allegorical elements • Berenguard’s Commentary. • Similar to Andreas’, with Rev. covering the whole of human history. • Joachim’s Commentary. • Identified Revelations visions with 12th century historical expectations. • Nicholas of Lyra’s Commentary (14th century) • Rev depicts history from the time of Domitian to his own time.

  5. THE REFORMATION • This period was marked by the emergence of two influential views: • The Futurist View (Endgeschichtlich view) • Ribeira Francisco., ‘Commentarius in sacram beati Joannis apocalypsim’ Salamanca 1591 • First chapters of Rev about the first century • The rest of Rev about the last 3 ½ years of time. • Babylon is a degenerate Rome of the future –not Papal Rome. • The Preterist View (Zeitgeschichtlich view) • de Alcazar Louis., ‘Vestigato arcani sensus in Apocalypsi’ Antwerp 1614 and 1619. • Most of Rev. fulfilled in first century before destruction of Jerusalem. • Rev 4-11 are about conflict between the Church & Judaism • Rev 12-19 concerned with conflict between Church & Paganism. • Rev 20-22 deals with the Church’s final triumph.

  6. 17th & 18th Century views. • Various Historical views emerged from: • Joseph Mede • The scheme spanned from Domitian’s time to his own • Sir Isaac Newton (the famous Scientist!) • The scheme spanned from Domitian’s time to his own • William Whiston • The scheme spanned from Domitian’s time to his own • Vitringa • As above • Bengel • As above • Grotius • Proposed a Preterist historical view • Hammond • Offered a Preterist historical view • Eichhorn • Proposed a Drama Theory.

  7. 19th & 20th Century • Historicist views were losing credibility during this period because their predictions invariably failed and constantly had to be updated to fit the latest impending historical situation. • The ‘Millennial Dawnists’ in the U.S A used the book of Revelation & Daniel to produce a series failed prophecies of the return of Christ. • More commentators began to embrace the Futurist position. (Maitland, Williams, Bisping & others). • Development of New Approaches.

  8. 19th & 20th Century • Historical Critical Analysis gave rise to a variety of theories: • Source theories • Revelation’s author used SOURCES to write his book. • Revision theories. • Rev was revised by a series of authors • Incorporation theories • Compilation theories • Oral Tradition –Form Criticism (Formgeschichte) • Gunkel ., ‘Schopfung und Chaos’ 1895. • Author of Rev derived his material from oral traditions found in Apocalyptic writings, the Old Testament and eschatological tradition handed down over the centuries • Eschatological oral tradition is traceable to a particular ‘FORM’.

  9. 19th & 20th Century • Archaeology • Ramsay W, M., The bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament, London, 1915. • In 1880 he started an archaeological investigation of the ancient cities to whom the letters in Rev. were written and concluded: • The manner in which each Church is described in Rev is consistent with the natural scenery and geographical environment. • Yamouchi E.M., ‘New Testament Cities in Western Asia Minor:light from archaeology on cities of Paul and the Seven Churches of Revelation’, Grand Rapids, 1980. • Has continued archaeological work in this field.

  10. The 19th & 20th Century • Emergence of the Eclectic/ Idealist view. • Milligan W.,’ The Revelation of St John’ 1886 • The Apocalypse embraces the whole Christian age • It deals with the action of great principles • It should be interpreted in a Spiritual Sense. • Additional influences: • Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Mat 24) • Recollections from Jesus’ life from John’s Gospel • The historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament. • Related views: • The Sychronist view. • Hendriksen W., ‘More than Conquerors’, Grand Rapids, 1967. • Combines Eclectic tenets with a RECAPITULATION theory. • Revelation consists of Seven Parallel Sections. • Each repeats the themes of the previous section more vividly • Each section spans the entire period from the first to the second coming of Christ. • Symbols refer to principles of human conduct or divine moral government.

  11. Other 20th Century Views • THE PATCHWORK THEORY • Moffatt,J., Introduction to the Literature of the New Testament ,Edinburgh, 1918 • Moffatt proposed that Revelation compiled from a Patchwork of Sources to produce a series of visions stitched together by a number of intermezzos (Rev 7:1-17, 10:1-11, 14:1-20). • THE POETIC THEORY • Kiddle, M., 'The Revelation of St John, London,1940 • Revelation has no previously thought out scheme of development because it’s author was a visionary poet. Each recurring theme adds new colour to the overall impression

  12. Other 20th Century Views • THE SYMBOLISM THEORY • 'Farrer. A.,A Rebirth of Images, Westminster, 1949 • There are three keys to Revelation: • The number 7 • Astrology • The Jewish Liturgy • A highly subjective theory. • THE DRAMA THEORY • Benson, E., 'The Apocalypse: Structure and Principles of Interpretation, 1900, • The book written along the lines of a Greek Drama • Angelic announcements parallels the use of the Gods in Greek drama • It’s Hymnic sections are compared with the Greek Chorus. • THE SEVEN FOLD DESIGN THEORY • Proposed by several scholars:‘ • Lohmeyer. E. Die Offenbarung des Johannes', 1953 • LoenertzR.L., 'The Apocalypse of St. John, trans into English by H.J Carpenter, London 1947 • Loenertz proposes the book divided into seven groups of seven sections • Lohmeyer, an even more intricate scheme.

  13. Other 20th Century Views • THE LITURGICAL PATTERN THEORY • Shepherd M. 'The Paschal Liturgy and the Apocalypse', London 1960 • Rev based on the Paschal (Passover) Liturgy • Rev 1-3 represents the Scrutinies • Rev 4-6 represents the vigil. • Rev 7 represents the initiation. • Rev 8-19 depicts the Synaxis • Rev 19-22 depicts the Eucharist. • The evidence for the liturgy appears to be LATER than the apocalypse and thus no dependence can be placed on it.

  14. Other 20th Century Views • THE CONCENTRIC PATTERN THEORY • Schssler-Fiorenza, E., 'Composition and Structure of the Apocalypse', Catholic Bible Quarterly 39, 1977, 344-366, reprinted in 'The Book of Revelation. Justice and Judgment', 159-180 • Rev based on a concentric structured series of seven visions climaxing/centring on the fourth vision: • (A) Rev 1:1-8 • (B) Rev 1:9-3:22 • (C) Rev 4:1-9:21 & Rev 11:15-19 • (D) Rev 10:1-15:4 (Centre of concentric structure) • (C') Rev 15:5-19:10 • (B') Rev 19:11-22:9 • (A') Rev 22:10-21. • Connections between A and A', B and B', C and C' are not easy to establish • Rev does not seem to give the impression of coming to a climax in the centre, -rather at the end.

  15. Other 20th Century Views • THE HISTORICAL PROPHETIC THEORY • Corsini, E., Apocalisse prima e dopo', Eng. tr. 'The Apocalypse', Wilmington, 1983 • Rev points towards Christ’s first coming. • The first part of the book prepares the way for an exposition of Christ’s death from various points of view. • Rev 17-19:10 is concerned with Christ’s death as 'Judgement on History', Rev 19:11-20:15 deals with Christ’s death as the final destruction of all evil forces. • The remainder is concerned with connecting Christ’s death with the new Jerusalem. • THE HISTORICAL APOCALYPTIC THEORY • Hopkins, M., 'The Historical Perspective of Apocalypse 1-11', Catholic Bible Quarterly 27, 1965, 42-47 • The first eleven chapters of Rev depict the church's triumph over Judaism • The second half (Rev12-22) predicts the impending judgements of God on Rome • It is not clear however, why the seal and trumpet visions should relate to the past and the bowls to the future

  16. Other 20th Century Views • THE PESHER THEORY • Thiering, B. Jesus of the Apocalypse. London: Corgi. (1997), • The Christian community employed the same technique (Pesher) that the Qumran community used to read the historical happenings of it’s time into the Old Testament scriptures • Revelation is a compilation of books written by different authors, James Niceta (Rev 8:6-14:5), John Aquila (Rev 1:1-8:5), Tychicus (Rev 14:6-19:21) and another John (Rev 20:1-22:21), who used the Pesher technique. • This claim appears to be inconsistent with the results of linguistic studies which conclude that the book is a synthetic unity written by a single author. • Produces a radical view of first century happenings which lacks adequate justification.

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