the cosmic battle a.d.? anno domini – the year of our lord we owe this to a monk named dionysius...

The Cosmic BattleThe Cosmic BattleA.D.?

Anno Domini – The Year of our Lord

We owe this to a monk named Dionysius Exiguus in 465 A.D.

Throughout history, dating has been done when a new king or sovereign came to power.

e.g.

Diocletian 248A.D….

132 AD Bar Kochba…

1792 in French Revolution

The Cosmic BattleThe Cosmic Battle

In 465 Dionysius Exiguus changed the calendar to declare that Jesus was sovereign.

He chose March 25th, not Dec 25th or Easter

Why?

It was the day of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary

This did not change for the next 1,000 years, Pope Gregory in 1582.


A. None of the imagery of this section of the last book of the A. None of the imagery of this section of the last book of the Bible would have been foreign to its first Bible would have been foreign to its first readers/hearers.readers/hearers.1. Much of it comes from the Old Testament1. Much of it comes from the Old Testament

Pharaoh as a dragon (Ezekiel 29:3, 32:2)Pharaoh as a dragon (Ezekiel 29:3, 32:2)

King of Babylon as dragon (Jeremiah 51:34)King of Babylon as dragon (Jeremiah 51:34)Powerful nations as beasts (Daniel 7)Powerful nations as beasts (Daniel 7)Leviathan the sea monster, Behemoth the earth Leviathan the sea monster, Behemoth the earth

monster (Job)monster (Job)

2. Much of it comes from the mythology of the day (We need to 2. Much of it comes from the mythology of the day (We need to understand “deep stories” to understand other cultures or understand “deep stories” to understand other cultures or another person.) another person.)

Python the dragon seeking to kill the childPython the dragon seeking to kill the child

Apollo slays the dragon Apollo slays the dragon

B. The imagery of this section is very fluid — more like a B. The imagery of this section is very fluid — more like a music video than a political cartoon.music video than a political cartoon.

C. Remember the two-fold pastoral purpose of apocalyptic C. Remember the two-fold pastoral purpose of apocalyptic literature:literature:The present in light of the unseen realities of the futureThe present in light of the unseen realities of the future

The present in light of the unseen realities of the presentThe present in light of the unseen realities of the present

D. This section is the “theological center” of the book (see D. This section is the “theological center” of the book (see chiastic structure).chiastic structure).

E. The setting of this “apocalypse”E. The setting of this “apocalypse”- a throne in heaven 4:1-5:14- a throne in heaven 4:1-5:14

- an altar before the throne 8:2-5- an altar before the throne 8:2-5- the temple/sanctuary is opened (naos – Holy of - the temple/sanctuary is opened (naos – Holy of

Holies)Holies)- the ark of the covenant appears - the ark of the covenant appears

the ark= place where God resides/dwells on the ark= place where God resides/dwells on earthearth


What we have in this section is a “drama in seven What we have in this section is a “drama in seven scenes”.scenes”.

We know it constitutes a separate unit within the We know it constitutes a separate unit within the whole book because it is whole book because it is “bracketed” by “bracketed” by the words (12:1, 15:1)- the only place in the the words (12:1, 15:1)- the only place in the book where the term is used-and “overcome” book where the term is used-and “overcome” (12:11, 15:2).(12:11, 15:2).


1. Scene one (12:1-17)1. Scene one (12:1-17)a. the charactersa. the characters

a womana womana dragona dragona childa child

b. the plotb. the plotwar in heaven war in heaven won on earth won on earth ““thrown down” — lit. “bounced” thrown down” — lit. “bounced” goes after the “rest of her offspring” goes after the “rest of her offspring” (12:17) (12:17)

c. how to overcome - 12:11c. how to overcome - 12:11


2. Scene two (13:1-10).2. Scene two (13:1-10).a. the beast from the sea (13:1)a. the beast from the sea (13:1)b. usurpsb. usurpsc. death-wound healed (13:3)c. death-wound healed (13:3)d. Revelation 13 and Romans 13d. Revelation 13 and Romans 13

3. Scene three (13:11-18)3. Scene three (13:11-18)a. the beast from the earth (13:11)a. the beast from the earth (13:11)b. imitatesb. imitates

signs signs image-making image-making mark (cp.7:1-3) mark (cp.7:1-3) false prophet (16:13)false prophet (16:13)

c. encourages worship of the beast of the sea c. encourages worship of the beast of the sea

d. the mark of the beast (13:16-18)— 666d. the mark of the beast (13:16-18)— 666


4. Scene four (14:1-5)4. Scene four (14:1-5)a. the Lamb and His followersa. the Lamb and His followers

b. Mt. Zion—Psalm 2b. Mt. Zion—Psalm 2

5. Scene five (14:6-13) 5. Scene five (14:6-13) a. the angel-messengers a. the angel-messengers

b. their three-fold messageb. their three-fold message

14:6— 14:6—

14:8— 14:8—

14:9—14:9—

c. “perseverance of the saints” (14:12)c. “perseverance of the saints” (14:12)


6. Scene six (14:14-20)6. Scene six (14:14-20)a. “one like a son of man” with a sickle a. “one like a son of man” with a sickle

b. two harvestb. two harvest14:14-16 — reaping grain14:14-16 — reaping grain14:17-20 — treading grapes14:17-20 — treading grapes

7. Scene seven (15:1-4)7. Scene seven (15:1-4)a. prelude to the seven bowls (15:1)a. prelude to the seven bowls (15:1)

b. “overcame the beast”— the great mystery of the b. “overcame the beast”— the great mystery of the GospelGospelc. the Song of the Lamb (15:2-4)c. the Song of the Lamb (15:2-4)

Exodus 15:1—18Exodus 15:1—18Deuteronomy 32 1-43Deuteronomy 32 1-43


Discipleship implications of this sectionDiscipleship implications of this section

1. To be “in Christ” is to be in a battle, 1. To be “in Christ” is to be in a battle, against Christ’s enemyagainst Christ’s enemy

2. Please, do not take it personally2. Please, do not take it personally

3. Enemy does not come at us directly3. Enemy does not come at us directly

4. Develop a “healthy” suspicion of 4. Develop a “healthy” suspicion of institutions both “religious” and institutions both “religious” and “political”“political”


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