revelation and human reality

Revelation and Revelation and Human RealityHuman Reality

Session 53Session 53A-level AmphitheaterA-level Amphitheater

LLUMCLLUMCJan 29, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AMJan 29, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AM

Richard Bauckham Richard Bauckham Lectures at LLULectures at LLU

Tuesday, Feb 8, at noonTuesday, Feb 8, at noon

Revelation, Q & ARevelation, Q & A Tuesday, Feb 8, at 5:30 PMTuesday, Feb 8, at 5:30 PM

Individualism and Community in the Individualism and Community in the Gospel of JohnGospel of John

Wed, Feb 9, at 5:30 PM Wed, Feb 9, at 5:30 PM

The Bible and EcologyThe Bible and Ecology

Where: Alumni Hall AuditoriumWhere: Alumni Hall Auditorium

Freedom and PowerFreedom and Power

Action at Last!Action at Last! Revelation 20:1-3a Then I saw an angel Revelation 20:1-3a Then I saw an angel

coming down from heaven, holding in his coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. more, until the thousand years were ended.

Any Questions?Any Questions? Such as this questionSuch as this question: :

If forceful action is taken If forceful action is taken at last, why was it not at last, why was it not done earlier?done earlier?

Possible answer: It is Possible answer: It is better late than never!better late than never!

More ActionMore Action

Revelation 20:3b After that he must be Revelation 20:3b After that he must be let out for a little while. let out for a little while.

Any More Questions?Any More Questions?

Such as this questionSuch as this question: : Why will he be Why will he be released; indeed, why released; indeed, why mustmust he be he be released?released?

Probable answer: It does not make sense!Probable answer: It does not make sense!

Let Us Consult the Let Us Consult the ExpertsExperts

““But why is Satan merely bound and why is he But why is Satan merely bound and why is he ever to be loosed again?” ever to be loosed again?”

Austin Austin Farrer, Farrer, RevelationRevelation, 202., 202.

 “ “Why, once Satan had been securely sealed in Why, once Satan had been securely sealed in the abyss, the abyss, must must he he be let loose be let loose to wreak further to wreak further havoc? And what claim does he have on God, havoc? And what claim does he have on God, that God is bound to give the Devil his due?” that God is bound to give the Devil his due?” Caird, Caird, The Revelation of Saint JohnThe Revelation of Saint John 249.. 249..

Consulting the Experts Consulting the Experts – the Question– the Question

““But why, theologically, must he be But why, theologically, must he be loosed loosed to to deceive the nationsdeceive the nations? Why did he have to come ? Why did he have to come down to earth with great wrath? Why could he not down to earth with great wrath? Why could he not have been liquidated from the beginning?” have been liquidated from the beginning?”

Sweet, Sweet, RevelationRevelation, 290., 290.

““Why not simply destroy Satan at the beginning of Why not simply destroy Satan at the beginning of the thousand-year period? Why is it important the thousand-year period? Why is it important that Satan is that Satan is notnot destroyed during the millennial destroyed during the millennial period?” period?” Resseguie, Resseguie, Revelation UnsealedRevelation Unsealed, 25., 25.

Consulting the Experts Consulting the Experts – the Question– the Question

““The question occurs to every reader of The question occurs to every reader of this text, ‘Once Satan is bound and the this text, ‘Once Satan is bound and the earth enjoys a millennium of undemonized earth enjoys a millennium of undemonized celebration, why ‘must’ he be released celebration, why ‘must’ he be released again?’” again?’” Boring,Boring, Revelation Revelation , , 208.208.

  ““What is the point?” What is the point?” Charles H. Talbert,Charles H. Talbert, The Apocalypse The Apocalypse, ,

95.95.

Consulting the Experts Consulting the Experts – the Answer– the Answer

#1: Something is wrong with the #1: Something is wrong with the text. text. John died “John died “when he had completed i.-xx.3 of when he had completed i.-xx.3 of

his work, and that the materials for its his work, and that the materials for its completion, which were for the most part completion, which were for the most part ready in a series of independent documents, ready in a series of independent documents, were put together by a faithful but were put together by a faithful but unintelligent disciple in the order which he unintelligent disciple in the order which he thought rightthought right.”.” Charles, Charles, RevelationRevelation II, 147. II, 147.

Consulting the Experts Consulting the Experts – the Answer– the Answer

#2: Something is wrong with the #2: Something is wrong with the author. author. ““After the capture of ‘the beast’ the seer After the capture of ‘the beast’ the seer

has lost interest in the story.” has lost interest in the story.” Lohmeyer, Lohmeyer, OffenbarungOffenbarung,, 116.,, 116.

Consulting the Experts Consulting the Experts – the Answer– the Answer

#3: Something is wrong with the #3: Something is wrong with the source. source. ““Here is our key. The origin of this Here is our key. The origin of this

doctrine is not specifically Christian but is doctrine is not specifically Christian but is to be found in certain Jewish beliefs about to be found in certain Jewish beliefs about the Messianic age which were common in the Messianic age which were common in the time after 100 B. C.” the time after 100 B. C.”

Barclay, Barclay, RevelationRevelation., 2:186-187.., 2:186-187.

Consulting the Experts Consulting the Experts – the Answer– the Answer

#4: Something is wrong with the #4: Something is wrong with the script. script. John “John “found this event prophesied in found this event prophesied in

Ezekiel xxxviii-xxxix, and prophecies must Ezekiel xxxviii-xxxix, and prophecies must have their fulfilment.” have their fulfilment.”

Caird, Caird, RevelationRevelation, 256. , 256.

Satan as Metaphor - 1Satan as Metaphor - 1

Satan is not liquidated “because he Satan is not liquidated “because he represents man’s free will, the capacity represents man’s free will, the capacity God has given for sin, and the terrible God has given for sin, and the terrible reality of the consequences. reality of the consequences. This This heaven heaven and earth cannot exist without him.” and earth cannot exist without him.”

Sweet, Sweet, RevelationRevelation, 290., 290.

Satan as Metaphor - 2Satan as Metaphor - 2

““Evil must be magnified to its fullest before Evil must be magnified to its fullest before being destroyed forever. In order to being destroyed forever. In order to participate in this mythical scene, the devil participate in this mythical scene, the devil ‘must’ be released to engage in his ‘must’ be released to engage in his characteristic activity of ‘deceiving the characteristic activity of ‘deceiving the nations.’” nations.’”

Boring, Boring, RevelationRevelation, 209-10., 209-10.

No One to Blame?No One to Blame?

God “binds the deceiver and sets up a God “binds the deceiver and sets up a period of time in which His will is perfectly period of time in which His will is perfectly clear and obvious to all. Nevertheless, it is clear and obvious to all. Nevertheless, it is all to no avail. When the deceiver is set all to no avail. When the deceiver is set free, he still proves…that humans cannot free, he still proves…that humans cannot blame their sinfulness on their environment blame their sinfulness on their environment or circumstances.” or circumstances.”

Talbert, Talbert, ApocalypseApocalypse, 95., 95.

Sovereign Grace?Sovereign Grace?

““Just as he was allowed to enter Eden, so Just as he was allowed to enter Eden, so in the restoration of paradise – the in the restoration of paradise – the millennial earth – he will be permitted to do millennial earth – he will be permitted to do it again. This final chapter in the world’s it again. This final chapter in the world’s history will again demonstrate that people history will again demonstrate that people perpetually embrace evil unless sustained perpetually embrace evil unless sustained by sovereign grace.” by sovereign grace.” MacLeod, MacLeod, “The Fifth ‘Last Thing’: The Release of “The Fifth ‘Last Thing’: The Release of Satan,” Satan,” BSacBSac157 (2000), 205.157 (2000), 205.

Our TurnOur Turn

1.1. The notion that there is something wrong with The notion that there is something wrong with the text, the author, the source, or the script the text, the author, the source, or the script must be rejected. must be rejected.

2.2. The notion that Satan is a mere amplifying The notion that Satan is a mere amplifying feature for what is essentially a feature for what is essentially a humanhuman drama drama must also be rejected. must also be rejected.

3.3. In a book billed as a In a book billed as a revelationrevelation, the notion that , the notion that this turn of event is inscrutable is also this turn of event is inscrutable is also inadequate. inadequate.

‘‘My’ TurnMy’ Turn

1.1. The conspicuous binding, thousand-year The conspicuous binding, thousand-year imprisonment and subsequent release of imprisonment and subsequent release of Satan described toward the end of Satan described toward the end of Revelation Revelation (20:1-3; 7-10)(20:1-3; 7-10) establishes Satan establishes Satan as an important character in the narrative as an important character in the narrative and allots to him a central role in the plot of and allots to him a central role in the plot of the story on literary and narratival terms the story on literary and narratival terms alonealone..

‘‘My’My’ Turn - 2 Turn - 2

2. 2. Satan is made to stand alone on stage at Satan is made to stand alone on stage at the end of Revelation’s narrative in order to the end of Revelation’s narrative in order to place him in a separate category that is place him in a separate category that is distinct from the human dramadistinct from the human drama..

‘‘My’My’ Turn - 3 Turn - 3

3. 3. The ending of Revelation is also the The ending of Revelation is also the ending of the Bible and the ‘climax of ending of the Bible and the ‘climax of prophecy.’ On this logic the ending of the prophecy.’ On this logic the ending of the story is likely to be related in some story is likely to be related in some significant way to the beginning. significant way to the beginning.

Next SessionNext Session

Next session: February 12. Next session: February 12.