What Is Up With The Book of Revelation?

La Bête de la Mer (Tapisserie de l'Apocalypse) / The Beast of the Sea (Tapestry of the Apocalypse) Credit: Kimon Berlin

What is up with The Book of Revelation?: Close reading on the Context and Purpose of The Book of  Revelation.

link to full text of The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is, as a famous line by Winston Churchill goes, ”a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”. Well at least it is without context. With historical background, however, it is far less crazy and actually makes sense, both for an ancient and modern audience.

For some context, The Book of Revelation belongs to a genre of literature known as apokalypsis. The author believed in apocalypticism, that the end of the world as they knew it was imminent, and everything was either good or evil (Ehrman 337). Theologically, the author John is supposed to have received the visions through Christ, and narrated them to his community (Ehrman 336).

While the date is debated, many scholars believe it was written under the reign of Nero. If one reads it as being written around the reign of Nero, suddenly the signs and beasts make far more sense. Most famous is the 666, or mark of the beast (345). Ehrman suggests that it is actually numerical code for Nero Caesar. The seven headed beast is a reference to Rome and its 7 hills, a fact likely better known in ancient times than now. The Whore of Babylon refers to Rome as well, Babylon was a city opposed to God, as was Rome in the eyes of Christians. In reality most of the fantastical imagery was really just a clever way of discussing the enemy.

I think you can have multiple readings of the purpose and occasion of the Book of Revelation. My education at Catholic elementary school taught me the “fear” reading, but in studying the text in this class and other in college, I have also come to understand the “hope” reading as well. I don’t think they are mutually exclusive, but work together to both inspire and keep the faithful in line. It is no different from other ancient myths, told to scare and inspire awe.

Fear is often used as a tactic to keep people in line-take examples like stories from the Brothers Grimm, stories told to scare children into doing chores or not talking to strangers. Under a harsh ruler when Christians would be extremely tempted to fall in line with the pagan belief instead of being persecuted, a horrible image depiction of the end of the world could be an extremely useful piece of literature. This is how the Book of Revelation is later used during the Great Awakening by preachers like Jonathan Edwards.

As strange as it sounds, the Book of Revelation can be read as a book that promises hope. Those suffering under Nero could be comforted by visions that show their God casting down their enemies and ushering the faithful into a new land.

Another debate among scholars and authors is if the Book of Revelation points to the future or past. The best example of this debate concerns the significance and context of the seven seals. The seals are:

1. Rider on  a white horse with a bow, intent on conquering (6:2) 
2. Rider on red horse who takes peace from the world (6:4)
3. Rider on black horse holding measuring scales, who rations food (6:5) 
4. Rider (Death) on pale green horse, followed by Greek god Hades, both given authority to kill (6:7-8) 
5. Souls of Christian martyred receive white robes and are told to wait for more to be killed (6:11) 
6. Earthquake. sun goes black, moon turns blood red, stars fall from sky, mountains and islands disappear, people hide in fear (6:12-16) 
7. Heaven falls silent for half an hour (8:1)

A historical/past reading of the seven seals would interpret them as related to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Rome as the first two horses who conquer and slaughter. The 3^rd and 4^th signs can be explained as the famine and death from diseases caused by the siege. The martyrs are those killed by the Romans are the 5^th, and the 6th and 7^th are the actual destruction of Jerusalem.

Now the more futuristic view includes the 1^st sign being the Antichrist, the 2^nd  a great (possibly nuclear) battle, the 3^rd and 4^th are results from the war, the 5^th as Christians killed in the conflict, the  6^th are actual earthquakes and possible fallout from war, and the 7^th as God unleashing final judgment (Miller 527 *note used outside research as Ehrman doesn’t address other interpretations for the signs, only the book in general and is dismissive of future readings in Box 21, pg  344.

To wrap up, I think that my approach to the Book of Revelation has been influenced by what I have learned in this class, not just in the context of this text but being able to look at Christianity as a whole picture, and understand its purpose to ancient followers. When preachers during the Great Awakening used this text as a device to scare and inspire loyalty, it completely disregards the struggles of ancient Christians. In my opinion it is far more important to remember that they were once persecuted simply because the ruling majority couldn’t understand their customs, and it got in the way of making money. In modern times when prejudice against foreign religions and cultures is brought about simply from a lack of understanding it is even more vital that people study religion and its origins. People are dying because of this misunderstanding, history is literally repeating itself, and yet nothing is being done. If anyone reads this, I challenge you to think about beliefs, stereotypes, even customs (religious or otherwise) you hold dear and question why you do it, why it was brought about, and for what purpose. Or at the very least perhaps you will at least remember that the Book of Revelation probably isn’t they best source next time someone quotes it with the tagline that “the world is coming to an immediate end on Saturday”.

-Morgan