The Revelation to John

The Revelation to John

Best known parts:

The Eschatological WoesPortrayed 3 Times: in Cycles of 7 Plagues

• 7 Seals (Rev 6)• 7 Trumpets (Rev 8- 9; 11.15-19)• 7 Bowls (Rev 15-

16)

The Cloisters Apocalypse

The Left Behind Parts of Revelation• Visions of God’s Glory

• The Worship of God in Hymnsas Creatoras Redeemeras Ruler of All

• The Hope for a Better World in which God Rules over all

Subtext:Revelation: Beloved by Artists and Musicians

Revelation: the Most IllustratedBook of the Bible

Artistic Representations of Revelation: To Remember

The Cloisters Apocalypse (ca.1320-30)

The Flemish Apocalypse (ca. 1400-1425)

Jan van Eijk, Altarpiece St. Bavo Cathedral , Ghent ca. 1432

Albrecht Dürer, Apocalypse (1511)

William Blake (1757-1827)

Robert Roberg (b. 1943): The River of the Water of Life

Two Central Themes• The Kingdom (Rule) of God

at the Present Time (Rev 4)

at the Eschaton (Rev 21-22)

• The Two Advents of Christ as Jesus: the Suffering Lamb (Rev 5)

as Triumphant Warrior who reigns in the Eschaton (Rev 19-22)

The Hymns of Revelation*Revelation 4.8,11: Holy Holy, Holy

*Revelation 5.9-13: Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 7.11-17

*Revelation 11.15-18: He will reign for ever and ever

Revelation 12.10-12

(Revelation 14:13: Who from their labors rest)

Revelation 15.3-4

Revelation 16.5-7

*Revelation 19.1-8 Hallelujah!

(Revelation 19:16: King of Kings and Lord of Lords)

(Revelation 21.3-4--poetry)

Outline of the Revelation to John • Rev 1: Introduction: John’s Vision• Rev 2-3: 7 Letters to 7 Churches• *Rev 4-5: The Kingdom of God in Heaven• Rev 6-9: 7 Seals: 7 Plagues

7 Trumpets: 7 Plagues• Rev 10-14: Interlude: Christians in the Present• Rev 15-16: 7 Bowls: 7 Plagues• Rev 17-19.10: Lady Babylon• *Rev 19.11-20.5: Christ’s Second Coming; the

Millennium; Final Defeat of Satan• *Rev 21-22.5: Lady Jerusalem-- Kingdom of

God: over ALL: new heaven and new earth

• Rev 22.6-21: Conclusion

The Revelation to John:Part I: Revelation 1-11

Albrecht Dürer, 1511The Four Horsemen of Rev 6

Revelation 1: John on Patmos

• Revelation 1.9: “I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

Vision of the exalted ChristRevelation 1.12-20

• John Sees the Son of Man amidst 7 Golden Lampstands

• Christ addresses the 7 churches of Western Turkey

• Description echoes Old Testament texts: Dan 7.13; 10.5-9

Bamberg Apocalypse, ca. 1000

I AM: Christ as Alpha and OmegaRevelation 1:17 [John tells of his vision of the glorified Christ]“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive for ever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.”

Revelation 22:12-13 [Christ speaks]: “‘See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’

The Central Vision

Revelation 4John is Snatched up to

Heaven to see God’s Heavenly Throne Room

A Vision of the Kingship =Kingdom of God

God is Worshipped by 24 elders and countless

throngs of angels

Revelation 4-5God and the Lamb

The Cloisters Apocalypse, 1320-30

God’s Kingdom celebrated in Hymn #1: Rev 4.8 &117 Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. . . 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing,

‘Holy, holy, holy,the Lord God the Almighty,

who was and is and is to come.’

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ever andever; they **cast their crowns** before the throne, singing,

11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power,

for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’

Old Testament Background of Hymn . . .

Isaiah 6:2-3: “In the Year that Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne. . and the hem of his throne filled the temple.. Seraphs were in attendance above him … And one called to another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory”

. . . And Later Echoes:Holy, holy, holy! Lord

God Almighty! [Rev 4:8: Isa 6:3]

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; [Rev 4:10]

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be. [Rev 4:8]

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

The Episcopal Hymnal 362 (Recasts Rev 4 and Isaiah 6)

William Blake

The Two Advents of Christ

First Coming:Christ as Lamb of GodHis Sacrificial Death

Revelation 5

Second ComingChrist Comes for Final

Defeat of EvilAnd to Establish the

Kingdom of GodRevelation 19:11-22:5

Revelation 5: The Lion of Judah Appears before God as a Lamb and Receives Worship

• He Is Worthy to Open the Scroll = the Eschatological Plan of God

• Sacrificial Death of Christ as Initial Victory over Satan

• Revelation 5: A Key to the Action of the Book

The Cloisters Apocalypse, 1320-30

FIRST VICTORY OF LAMB CELEBRATED IN HYMN #2:

REVELATION 5: 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice,

‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughteredto receive power and wealth and wisdom and

mightand honour and glory and blessing!’

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,

‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honour and glory and mightfor ever and ever!’

14 And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped.

#2 “Worthy is the lamb that was slain,and hath redeemed us to God by his

blood,to receive power, and riches,and wisdom, and strength,

and honour, and glory, and blessing.”#3 “Blessing and honour, glory and

powerbe unto Him that sitteth upon the

throne,and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.

(Rev 5:12-13)“Amen” (Chorus) "And the four living

creatures said 'Amen!"

HANDEL’s MESSIAH

The Adoration of the Lamb

Jan van Eijk, Altarpiece St. Bavo Cathedral , Ghent ca. 1432

EpiscopalHymnal 439

Wondrous Love

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!What wondrous love is this, O my soul!What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of blissTo bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,When I was sinking down, sinking down,When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

ReflectsRev 5 andRev 1.17; 22:13

REVELATION 5 and The Rest of RevelationThe Sacrifical Death of Christ Begins the Final Events

• Battle between Good and Evil begins in Earnest: Cross as Preliminary Victory (Rev 5)

• Eschatological Woes: Plagues on Earth (Rev 6-9; 15-16)

• Battles: Michael and Satan (Rev 12);Lamb and followers vrs. the Beast (Rev 13-14)******

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (Rev 19): Completes the Final Events

• Final Defeat of Satan• Resurrection and Judgment of All People• The New Jerusalem/ the Lake of Fire

Revelation: Part IIRevelation 12-22: The Last Battle

Victory of Good over Evil

The Cosmic BattleSaint Michael Battles Against Satan

• Revelation 12• Michael = the Chief of

the 7 Archangels• He Throws Satan=the

Dragon out of Heaven

Cloisters Apocalypse, 1320-30

Satan Attacks the WomanRevelation 12.1-6:The Woman Clothed with the Sun = Mother of the Messiah

Revelation 12:13-17Excluded from HeavenSatan Works Mischief on EarthAttacking the Woman clothed with the Sun a with a Flood of Water

Cloisters Apocalypse, 1320-30

Revelation 13The Beast from the Sea

The Roman Emperor as Agent of Satan

Completion of God’s Plan for Salvation and Judgment

Revelation 19:11-22:5

Second Coming of ChristAs Rider on a White Horse

Final Defeat of Evil and Death

Resurrection of the DeadThe Last Judgment

The Kingdom of God = the New Jerusalem


The Second Coming of ChristREVELATION 19:11-16

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. . . . 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, **‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.**

FINAL VICTORY OF CHRISTCELEBRATED IN HYMNS #3 AND #4

Hymn #3: Revelation 11:15-16

Hymn #4: Revelation 19:1-8

Elders SingingCathedral Door

Hymn #3 Revelation 11:15-16

ANTICIPATES THE FINAL VICTORY OF REVELATION 19

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah [Christ]

and he will reign for ever and ever.’

16 Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17 singing,

‘We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty, who are and who were,

for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.’

Hymn #4: Revelation 19:1-71 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

‘Hallelujah!Salvation and glory and power to our God, 2 for his judgements are true and just;he has judged the great whore

who corrupted the earth with her fornication,and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’. . .

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who is seated on the throne, saying,

‘Amen. Hallelujah!’ . . .

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,

‘Hallelujah!For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,for the marriage of the Lamb has come.

Handel’s Chorus

Hallelujah! [Rev 19:6]Hallelujah!For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

The kingdom of this world is become [Rev 11:15]the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;and he shall reign for ever and ever.

King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. [19:16]Forever and ever. Hallelujah!

Combines verses from three parts of Revelation Revelation 19:6 (a Hymn); 11:15 (a Hymn); 19:16 (Description of Christ at his Second Coming)

The Saints take Part in the Victory of Christ

Revelation 14:13: ”And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them.’”

Message of Revelation:Christians are called to

Faithful Witness to ChristAnd to Follow him in Suffering

Albrecht Dürer, 1511The Lamb on Mount Zion

With the Faithful Christians

For All the SaintsEpiscopal Hymnal 287

Combines several texts from RevelationAlludes to Revelation 14:13; 19:1-8; 2:10-11; 21:21

For all the saints, who from their labors rest (Rev 14:13)Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.Alleluia, Alleluia! (Rev 19:1-8)

REVELATION 14:1, 12- 13 (compareRev 6:9-11)1 Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads . . . 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them.’

For All the Saints, Stanza 2O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,And win with them the victor’s crown of gold. (Rev 2:10-11)Alleluia, Alleluia!

REVELATION 2:10-11Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.

For All the Saints, Stanza 3Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.Alleluia, Alleluia!

REVELATION 21:22-23 THE NEW JERUSALEM

Light22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Jerusalem LightCathedral, Aachen

Jerusalem LightHildesheimGermany

For All the Saints, Stanza 4

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, (Rev 19:1-8)And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.Alleluia, Alleluia!

REVELATION 19:66 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,

‘Hallelujah!For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

For All the Saints, Stanza 5From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, (Rev 21:21)And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:Alleluia, Alleluia! (Rev 19:6)REVELATION 21: THE NEW

JERUSALEM

19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every precious stone . . . 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass.. . .


For all the saints, who from their labors rest (Rev 14:13)Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.Alleluia, Alleluia! (Rev 19:1-8)

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,And win with them the victor’s crown of gold. (Rev 2:10-11) Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light. Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, (Rev 19:1-8)And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong. Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, (Rev 21:21)And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:Alleluia, Alleluia! (Rev 19:6)

Revelation 21-22: The New Jerusalem

• “And I Saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down From Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” [Rev 21:1]

• Relates to Rev 4: Worship of God in Heaven

• Compare The Lord’s Prayer:“Thy Kingdom Come, on earth (Rev 21-22) as it is in Heaven (Rev 4-5).”

The Establishment of the Kingdom/ Kingshipof God: A Perfect State of Affairs

Cloisters Apocalypse

The New Jerusalem: The Navarre Beatus, 12th Century

Revelation 21:16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. . . .

The New Jerusalem: Zion, City of our God

Glorious things of thee are spoken,Zion, city of our God!He, whose Word cannot be broken,Formed thee for His own abode.On the Rock of Ages founded,What can shake thy sure repose?With salvation’s walls surrounded,Thou may’st smile at all thy foes.

See! the streams of living waters,Springing from eternal love;Well supply thy sons and daughters,And all fear of want remove:Who can faint while such a riverEver flows their thirst t’assuage?Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,Never fails from age to age.

Episcopal Hymnbook 522


Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken. Stanza 2

See! the streams of living waters,Springing from eternal love;Well supply thy sons and daughters,And all fear of want remove:Who can faint while such a riverEver flows their thirst t’assuage?Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,Never fails from age to age.

Revelation 221 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. . . . the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face. . . 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.

The river of the water of life, Robert Roberg

1991-95

William Blake: Jerusalemfrom “A Preface to Milton” (ca. 1804)

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen?And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills?Bring me my bow of burning gold: Bring me my arrows of desire: Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire.I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green and pleasant land.

Sources of Blake’s Poem “Jerusalem”

Revelation 5:6-13; 19:11-16; 21:1-4, (apocryphal story of Jesus); 2 Kings 2:11

The text of the poem was inspired by an apocryphal story that Jesus, while still a young man, accompanied by Joseph of Arimathea, came to the English town of Glastonbury. This is linked with an idea from the Book of Revelation that describes a Second Coming in which Jesus establishes a new Jerusalem.

The Christian Church in general, and the English Church in particular, often used Jerusalem as a metaphor for heaven. It is a place where love is universal and all is well in contrast to the 'dark satanic mills'. The term "dark satanic mills", which entered the English language from this poem, is most often interpreted as referring to the early industrial revolution and its destruction of nature.

Interpretation of Blake’s “Jerusalem”Blake had a strong interest in social and political reform. Often he cloaked his social idealism and political statements in Protestant mystical allegory. This poem expresses his desire for radical change without overt sedition. It is followed in the preface by a quotation from Numbers ch. 11, v. 29: “Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets.” Some of Blake's biographers have concluded that he believed in the legend of a visit of Jesus to England, but he may not have intended such a literal interpretation. Instead the poem may say that that there may, or may not, have been a divine visit when there was briefly heaven in England, but that was then; now we should accept the challenge to create such a country once more. It has thus inspired soldiers and anyone else with a social conscience.

This interpretation of Revelation 21-22 has something in common with post-millennialist interpretation (found for example in early days of America), the belief that humans must build a New Jerusalem before Christ would return.

William Blake/ JerusalemSet to Music by Charles Parry

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold: Bring me my arrows of desire: Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green and pleasant land.

The Lord’s PrayerThy Kingdom Come, on earth (Rev 21-22)

as it is in Heaven (Rev 4-5).

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”

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The Revelation to John