Summary and questions for the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation

Which is the most popularly misunderstood book of the Bible? My vote goes to the Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse. Apocalypse is a term that has come to mean “cataclysmic destruction”—as in the movie title that claims this event with the significant word “Now.” Actually, apocalypse simply means “revelation.” We might all appreciate having a revelation now, but not necessarily one like this.

The Book of Revelation is a very strange book, no doubt about it. It doesn’t tell a straightforward story like Genesis. It’s not prophecy like Amos, poetry like the Psalms, or advice like Proverbs. Yet it contains elements of all those kinds of writing in a form of literature borrowed from ancient Persia. Apocalyptic literature is meant to be a hidden sort of writing, its meaning not apparent at a glance, its “revelation” only for insiders. Apocalyptic writing is useful during times of persecution. The Christian community certainly qualified at the turn of the first century for a kind of writing only its own endangered members would understand.

The book unfolds as a vision offered to John of Patmos—most likely not the John who wrote the gospel or the letters by the same name. John sees “one like a son of man,” an image borrowed from the prophecies of Daniel—also an apocalyptic work. John also sees four living creatures, lifted from Ezekiel’s writings, which are themselves apocalyptic. When you come right down to it, a great portion of Revelation imitates earlier parts of the Bible, most of all Genesis itself. Read Revelation like the creation story in reverse, the world being unraveled in seven great events that recollect the seven first days.

Numbers play a big role in Revelation. Numerology—the symbolic use of numbers—isn’t intended to be factually accurate but rather suggestive of certain values. Twelve reminds us of the tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles—God’s chosen by any other name. Anything that’s a multiple of twelve carries that same significance only moreso, like the white-robed 144,000. Four is an earthly number of completeness: think “four winds” or “four elements.” Three is divinity, as in Trinity. Seven is a combination of four and three: that’s perfection, and it’s no surprise that the Lamb, representing Jesus, comes out as 777. Six suggests that something is lacking or broken from perfection. No wonder the Beast is saddled with the number 666.

Like most of Scripture, Revelation wasn’t written to predict tomorrow so much as to describe the “today” of its original audience. But its most important message is useful for every generation, including our own. In two words: God wins. No matter what evil befalls the world or what dangers arise in our midst, God will be the victor and those who remain faithful to God will share in the joy of the beautiful city and the life of the world to come. Or as we might say apocalyptically: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’”

Questions

1. Keep a running list of symbolic numbers as you read, starting with the seven churches. What do each of the assigned numbers tell you about the thing or person so described?

2. What do you think are the failures committed by each of the seven churches?

3. The four living creatures in chapter 4 have been identified with the four gospel writers. Which evangelist is called the lion, the calf (or bull), the human being, and the eagle?

4. The Lamb is an important symbol for Jesus in Revelation. What other biblical lamb helps us to understand this symbol?

5. People commonly think of Revelation as a book about total annihilation. But after each act of destruction, a majority is rescued. How does this make the book more hopeful?

6. The action in Revelation goes back and forth between a liturgy in heaven and violence on earth. How does this affect the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, that God’s name should be holy “on earth as it is in heaven?”

7. How is the story of the woman and the dragon in chapter twelve often interpreted by Christians?

8. Babylon the Great, in chapter 17, has been identified at various times in history with the ancient Roman Empire, the United Nations, the United States, even the Catholic Church. Why is it dangerous to use apocalyptic images as one-on-one analogies?

9. Two times in Revelation, God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” How are these reassuring words?

10. The Book of Revelation is sometimes called “The Fifth Gospel.” How could it too qualify as being “the good news of Jesus Christ”?

Summary and Questions offered by Alice Camille, M.Div.

Alice Camille is a nationally known author, religious educator, and retreat leader. She received her Master in Divinity from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, where she also served as adjunct faculty teaching ministry and preaching. For ten years she has written the popular monthly series “Exploring the Sunday Readings” as well as the book, God’s Word Is Alive, for Twenty-Third Publications. She also writes a monthly Bible column, “Testaments,” for U.S. Catholic Magazine that has won awards from the Catholic Press Association and Associated Church Press. Her books include the CPA award-winning titles Invitation to the Old Testament and Invitation to the New Testament, as well as an enlivening introduction to the Catholic worldview, Invitation to Catholicism. Alice takes God seriously and religion with a sense of humor.