Hope for the Hopeless: Apocalyptic

Sources: Karl Barth, "The Strange New World of the Bible," in The Word of God and the Word of Man (Harper, 1957); Willis Barnstone, ed., The Other Bible: Ancient Alternative Scriptures (HarperCollins, 1984); Bart Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 3d ed. (Oxford, 2004); I. Howard Marshall et al., Exploring the New Testament: A Guide to the Letters and Revelation (IVP, 2002), chapter 21; John O'Keefe and R.R. Reno, Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible (Johns Hopkins, 2005).

Reading: Rev 1:3.

Apocalyptic: A Paradigm for Interpreting Reality and Responding
The entire New Testament is apocalyptic in philosophical/eschatological outlook.: What does that mean?
A basic apocalyptic assumption: The world is the grip of evil, and helpless to overcome it on its own.
Possible responses:: Submit: Succumb to misery, pessimism, depression, fear/anxiety (sufferers).
Fight: Resist anyway, and lose (Zealots in the Jewish War and Bar Kochba Rebellion).
Deny and avoid: Seek a comfortable distance and even advantage within the system (scribes, the wealthy).
Collaborate: If you can't beat them, join them (Herodians, tax collectors).
Escape: Abandon this evil world for some ideal spiritual realm (Hellenistic Jews).
A further apocalyptic assumption: God will deliver from evil:: God is coming to act to end the evil, destroy its system, and restore a good, even perfect order.
Further possible responses, all apocalyptic in character:: Retreat: Withdraw outwardly to stay pure until then (Essenes, monastics).
Clean up: Withdraw inwardly to become pure for then (Pharisees, mystics).
Hang on: Await and invite the expected Reign of God (John the Baptist).
Conquer: Respond to the news of the now-approaching Reign of God,
by entering it through Jesus' grace (Jesus of Nazareth).

Nature (and other) Imagery in Apocalyptic
Apocalyptic literature arises before and in Israel's exile.: It extends and radicalizes the implications of the former and latter prophets.
OT writers use apocalyptic to foretell the pattern of God's deliverance;: NT writers use apocalyptic to tell their story of Jesus Christ.
Interpretation can be: literal ("mounted on a donkey", Matt 21),
figural ("let the reader understand", Mark 13:14), or
allegorical ("thrown in the fire", John 15:6).
Imagery is fundamental to the genre.
Old Testament images: Images in Revelation: Sun, moon, and stars tell the times (Joel 2). The sky vanishes (Rev 6:12-14, 12:8). The nations' lands will be destroyed (Ezek 29:9-12, 30:12). Trumpets and bowls bring environmental destruction (Rev 8-9, 16). Numbers tell the times (Dan 7:25, 12:7; 9:20-26). Times of opposition (Rev 11:3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:15). The fourth beast rises and falls (Dan 7); a ram and a goat (Dan 8, esp. 8:19). The dragon, beast, false prophet rise and fall (Rev 12-13). Israel is persecuted: the Abomination of Desolation (Dan 10-11, 12:1). Great tribulation (Rev 6, Rev 7:14). Resurrection and rescue (Dan 12). The sealed servants of God (Rev 7); resurrection (20:4) . The king delivers Israel from Babylon (Zech 9). The Son of Man comes to judge the world (Rev 11:15-18 etc.). Disaster brings mourning in Jerusalem (Zech 12). Mourning for the pierced one (Rev 1:7). Messiah restores Israel (Zech 13-14). Jesus reigns in the Millennium (Rev 20:1-6), then in the New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5). Summary: God will deliver Israel through its present trials. Summary: Jesus will deliver the Church through its present trials.

Apostolic Transformations of Israel's Eschatology
Jesus' ascension radically shifts the Church's understanding of Israel's national hopes:

Israel awaits a bright national future in an evil world.	Jesus Christ leads its apocalyptic restoration.	E.g., Gen 28:10-15 in John 1:44-51.
Israel's righteous ones seek assurance and vindication.	Christ's vindication offers a way to address his followers' old narrowness, grandiosity, arrogance, insecurity, fragility, despair, paralysis, and ruthlessness (cf. Rom 1:28-31).	Ps 110:1-4 in Col 3:1-17 and Heb 7-8.
Wayward Israel needs international judgment and restoration.	Jesus' Holy Spirit characterizes the Church's life, experience, and hope.	Isa 66 in Rev 21; Joel 2:28-32 through Pss 16 and 110 in Acts 2:14-39.
Apocalyptic prophecy discloses reality to suffering Israel.	The Church's apocalyptic perspective foresees Christ's deliverance from its present and future enemies.	Joel 2:30-31 in Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44-45.
Israel expects final, sure, decisive judgment-salvation from enemies.	Jesus' past and future appearings locate Christian hope, mission, and ecclesiology.	Dan 7:13-14 in Mark 14:61-64 and Rev 1:7-8;Ps 68:29 in Eph 4:7-10.

Old Testament images:	Images in Revelation:
Sun, moon, and stars tell the times (Joel 2).	The sky vanishes (Rev 6:12-14, 12:8).
The nations' lands will be destroyed (Ezek 29:9-12, 30:12).	Trumpets and bowls bring environmental destruction (Rev 8-9, 16).
Numbers tell the times (Dan 7:25, 12:7; 9:20-26).	Times of opposition (Rev 11:3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:15).
The fourth beast rises and falls (Dan 7); a ram and a goat (Dan 8, esp. 8:19).	The dragon, beast, false prophet rise and fall (Rev 12-13).
Israel is persecuted: the Abomination of Desolation (Dan 10-11, 12:1).	Great tribulation (Rev 6, Rev 7:14).
Resurrection and rescue (Dan 12).	The sealed servants of God (Rev 7); resurrection (20:4) .
The king delivers Israel from Babylon (Zech 9).	The Son of Man comes to judge the world (Rev 11:15-18 etc.).
Disaster brings mourning in Jerusalem (Zech 12).	Mourning for the pierced one (Rev 1:7).
Messiah restores Israel (Zech 13-14).	Jesus reigns in the Millennium (Rev 20:1-6), then in the New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5).
Summary: God will deliver Israel through its present trials.	Summary: Jesus will deliver the Church through its present trials.