THE APOCALYPSE
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK’S
HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION
By Noel Platt
THE ANTI NICEAN AGE
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Two main views of the Apocalypse were held during this
period:
(1) The Historicist view (Historico-eschatological)
view.
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Supported by Papias, Justin Martyr, Hippolytus, Irenaeus,
Revelation largely concerned with contemporary or imminent
historical happenings but with some future elements.
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Justin Martyr., ‘Dial. C. Tryph. 81
Irenaeus., ‘Against Heresies V’
Hypolytus., ‘On the Devil & Antichrist’
(2) The Allegorical view.
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Maintained by the Alexandrian School under Origen and Clement of
Alexandria
Swete ,H.B., The Apocalypse of St. John, MacMillan & Co. (1911)
THE ANTI NICEAN AGE
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The First Latin Commentary.
Produced by Victorinus of Petau, in the
third century.
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The first to advocate the Nero Redivivus
Myth – that the beast whose deadly wound
was healed was Nero risen from the dead.
The first to set forth a RECAPITULATION
theory – that Revelation repeats the same
facts in different forms again & again under
the seal, trumpet and bowl visions.
THE FOURTH CENTURY TO THE
REFORMATION.
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Tyconius’ Commentary.
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Andreas’ Commentary.
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Similar to Andreas’, with Rev. covering the whole of human
history.
Joachim’s Commentary.
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Combined historical & allegorical elements
Berenguard’s Commentary.
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A systematic allegorical theory
Identified Revelations visions with 12th century historical
expectations.
Nicholas of Lyra’s Commentary (14th century)
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Rev depicts history from the time of Domitian to his own time.
THE REFORMATION
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This period was marked by the emergence of two
influential views:
The Futurist View (Endgeschichtlich view)
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Ribeira Francisco., ‘Commentarius in sacram beati Joannis
apocalypsim’ Salamanca 1591
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First chapters of Rev about the first century
The rest of Rev about the last 3 ½ years of time.
Babylon is a degenerate Rome of the future –not Papal Rome.
The Preterist View (Zeitgeschichtlich view)
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de Alcazar Louis., ‘Vestigato arcani sensus in Apocalypsi’ Antwerp
1614 and 1619.
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Most of Rev. fulfilled in first century before destruction of Jerusalem.
Rev 4-11 are about conflict between the Church & Judaism
Rev 12-19 concerned with conflict between Church & Paganism.
Rev 20-22 deals with the Church’s final triumph.
17th & 18th Century views.
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Various Historical views emerged from:
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Joseph Mede
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Sir Isaac Newton (the famous Scientist!)
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Proposed a Preterist historical view
Hammond
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As above
Grotius
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As above
Bengel
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The scheme spanned from Domitian’s time to his own
Vitringa
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The scheme spanned from Domitian’s time to his own
William Whiston
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The scheme spanned from Domitian’s time to his own
Offered a Preterist historical view
Eichhorn
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Proposed a Drama Theory.
19th & 20th Century
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Historicist views were losing credibility during
this period because their predictions invariably
failed and constantly had to be updated to fit
the latest impending historical situation.
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The ‘Millennial Dawnists’ in the U.S A used the book
of Revelation & Daniel to produce a series failed
prophecies of the return of Christ.
More commentators began to embrace the
Futurist position. (Maitland, Williams, Bisping &
others).
Development of New Approaches.
19th & 20th Century
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Historical Critical Analysis gave rise to a variety of
theories:
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Source theories
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Revision theories.
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Revelation’s author used SOURCES to write his book.
Rev was revised by a series of authors
Incorporation theories
Compilation theories
Oral Tradition –Form Criticism (Formgeschichte)
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Gunkel ., ‘Schopfung und Chaos’ 1895.
Author of Rev derived his material from oral traditions found in
Apocalyptic writings, the Old Testament and eschatological tradition
handed down over the centuries
Eschatological oral tradition is traceable to a particular ‘FORM’.
19th & 20th Century
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Archaeology
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Ramsay W, M., The bearing of Recent Discovery on the
Trustworthiness of the New Testament, London, 1915.
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In 1880 he started an archaeological investigation of the ancient
cities to whom the letters in Rev. were written and concluded:
The manner in which each Church is described in Rev is consistent
with the natural scenery and geographical environment.
Yamouchi E.M., ‘New Testament Cities in Western Asia
Minor:light from archaeology on cities of Paul and the
Seven Churches of Revelation’, Grand Rapids, 1980.
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Has continued archaeological work in this field.
The 19th & 20th Century
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Emergence of the Eclectic/ Idealist view.
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Milligan W.,’ The Revelation of St John’ 1886
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The Apocalypse embraces the whole Christian age
It deals with the action of great principles
It should be interpreted in a Spiritual Sense.
Additional influences:
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Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Mat 24)
Recollections from Jesus’ life from John’s Gospel
The historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament.
Related views:
The Sychronist view.
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Hendriksen W., ‘More than Conquerors’, Grand Rapids, 1967.
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Combines Eclectic tenets with a RECAPITULATION theory.
Revelation consists of Seven Parallel Sections.
Each repeats the themes of the previous section more vividly
Each section spans the entire period from the first to the second coming of
Christ.
Symbols refer to principles of human conduct or divine moral government.
Other 20th Century Views
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THE PATCHWORK THEORY
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Moffatt,J., Introduction to the Literature of the New Testament
,Edinburgh, 1918
Moffatt proposed that Revelation compiled from a Patchwork of
Sources to produce a series of visions stitched together by a
number of intermezzos (Rev 7:1-17, 10:1-11, 14:1-20).
THE POETIC THEORY
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Kiddle, M., 'The Revelation of St John, London,1940
Revelation has no previously thought out scheme of
development because it’s author was a visionary poet. Each
recurring theme adds new colour to the overall impression
Other 20th Century Views
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THE SYMBOLISM THEORY
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'Farrer. A., A Rebirth of Images, Westminster, 1949
There are three keys to Revelation:
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A highly subjective theory.
THE DRAMA THEORY
Benson, E., 'The Apocalypse: Structure and Principles of Interpretation, 1900,
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The book written along the lines of a Greek Drama
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The number 7
Astrology
The Jewish Liturgy
Angelic announcements parallels the use of the Gods in Greek drama
It’s Hymnic sections are compared with the Greek Chorus.
THE SEVEN FOLD DESIGN THEORY
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Proposed by several scholars:‘
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Lohmeyer. E. Die Offenbarung des Johannes', 1953
Loenertz R.L., 'The Apocalypse of St. John, trans into English by H.J Carpenter, London 1947
Loenertz proposes the book divided into seven groups of seven sections
Lohmeyer, an even more intricate scheme.
Other 20th Century Views
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THE LITURGICAL PATTERN THEORY
Shepherd M. 'The Paschal Liturgy and the Apocalypse',
London 1960
Rev based on the Paschal (Passover) Liturgy
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Rev
Rev
Rev
Rev
Rev
1-3 represents the Scrutinies
4-6 represents the vigil.
7 represents the initiation.
8-19 depicts the Synaxis
19-22 depicts the Eucharist.
The evidence for the liturgy appears to be LATER than
the apocalypse and thus no dependence can be placed
on it.
Other 20th Century Views
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THE CONCENTRIC PATTERN THEORY
 Schssler-Fiorenza, E., 'Composition and Structure of the Apocalypse', Catholic
Bible Quarterly 39, 1977, 344-366, reprinted in 'The Book of Revelation. Justice
and Judgment', 159-180
 Rev based on a concentric structured series of seven visions climaxing/centring
on the fourth vision:
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(A) Rev 1:1-8
(B) Rev 1:9-3:22
(C) Rev 4:1-9:21 & Rev 11:15-19
(D) Rev 10:1-15:4 (Centre of concentric structure)
(C') Rev 15:5-19:10
(B') Rev 19:11-22:9
(A') Rev 22:10-21.
Connections between A and A', B and B', C and C' are not easy to establish
Rev does not seem to give the impression of coming to a climax in the
centre, -rather at the end.
Other 20th Century Views
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THE HISTORICAL PROPHETIC THEORY
Corsini, E., Apocalisse prima e dopo', Eng. tr. 'The Apocalypse', Wilmington, 1983
Rev points towards Christ’s first coming.
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THE HISTORICAL APOCALYPTIC THEORY
Hopkins, M., 'The Historical Perspective of Apocalypse 1-11', Catholic Bible Quarterly
27, 1965, 42-47
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The first part of the book prepares the way for an exposition of Christ’s death
from various points of view.
Rev 17-19:10 is concerned with Christ’s death as 'Judgement on History', Rev
19:11-20:15 deals with Christ’s death as the final destruction of all evil forces.
The remainder is concerned with connecting Christ’s death with the new
Jerusalem.
The first eleven chapters of Rev depict the church's triumph over Judaism
The second half (Rev12-22) predicts the impending judgements of God on Rome
It is not clear however, why the seal and trumpet visions should relate to the past
and the bowls to the future
Other 20th Century Views
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THE PESHER THEORY
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Thiering, B. Jesus of the Apocalypse. London: Corgi. (1997),
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The Christian community employed the same technique (Pesher) that the
Qumran community used to read the historical happenings of it’s time into the
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Old Testament scriptures
Revelation is a compilation of books written by different authors, James Niceta
(Rev 8:6-14:5), John Aquila (Rev 1:1-8:5), Tychicus (Rev 14:6-19:21) and
another John (Rev 20:1-22:21), who used the Pesher technique.
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This claim appears to be inconsistent with the results of linguistic studies which conclude
that the book is a synthetic unity written by a single author.
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Produces a radical view of first century happenings which lacks adequate justification.