Who Wrote the Book of Revelation?

Summary

In this final episode of his series on the authorship of the Bible, Matt Baker explores the books of Daniel and Revelation, two key texts of apocalyptic literature. He delves into their historical context, arguing that both books reflect contemporary struggles rather than future predictions. Through a historical lens, Baker discusses how the book of Daniel relates to the Hellenistic period and Jewish resistance, while Revelation reflects early Christian persecution under Roman rule. He highlights the significance of prophecy and apocalypse, challenging sensationalist interpretations and offering a more grounded understanding of these texts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daniel and Revelation are both apocalyptic literature, written during times of foreign oppression, and should be understood in their historical context rather than as future predictions.
• 😀 Prophecy in ancient Judaism was more about warning people to change their behavior in the present than predicting the future. Similarly, apocalypse refers to revealing a hidden spiritual truth, not predicting apocalyptic events.
• 😀 The book of Daniel, while set in the Babylonian period, was likely written during the Hellenistic period, with many of its prophecies referencing the political climate of that time, particularly under the rule of Antiochus IV.
• 😀 The famous statue dream in Daniel 2 is often misinterpreted as a prophecy about future empires, but it’s likely a historical reference to past kingdoms that oppressed the Jewish people, up to the Hellenistic period.
• 😀 The 'four beasts' in Daniel 7, often seen as representing four empires, most likely refer to Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the Hellenistic kings, especially Antiochus IV, not Rome and future empires.
• 😀 Daniel 9’s '70 weeks prophecy' is often interpreted by Christians as a prediction of Jesus’ life and death. However, from a historical perspective, it likely refers to the struggle for Jewish independence during the Maccabean revolt.
• 😀 Revelation was written in the late 1st century CE during Roman persecution of Christians, likely under Emperor Domitian, and presents a message of hope that good will eventually triumph over evil, despite the suffering of the time.
• 😀 In Revelation, the number '666' is widely interpreted as a code for the Roman Emperor Nero, the first to persecute Christians, rather than a future end-time figure like the Antichrist.
• 😀 The 'four living creatures' in Revelation 4, unlike the beasts in Daniel, are based on Ezekiel’s vision of angelic beings. They have been historically associated with the four Gospel writers in Christian tradition.
• 😀 The 'four horsemen of the apocalypse' in Revelation 6 are not predictions of future disasters but rather a reflection of the wars, famine, and disease that were present during Roman rule, symbolizing the harsh realities of the time.

Q & A

Why did Matt Baker decide to cover the books of Daniel and Revelation together?

Matt Baker chose to cover the books of Daniel and Revelation together because they share similarities in genre (apocalyptic literature), with Revelation being heavily influenced by Daniel. Additionally, both books serve as the final books in their respective sections—the Jewish Bible and the Christian New Testament.

How does Matt Baker explain the concept of prophecy in the context of the Bible?

Matt explains that prophecy in the Bible was not about predicting the future but was primarily a warning. Prophets urged people to change their behavior in the present, emphasizing that the future was not predetermined and that good outcomes could follow if people obeyed God.

What is the meaning of 'apocalypse' in biblical literature?

In biblical literature, 'apocalypse' refers to the uncovering of something hidden, not a prediction of the end of the world. It is an attempt to reveal a hidden cosmic battle between good and evil, showing that even in troubled times, God is still in control.

How does Matt Baker reinterpret the famous statue in Daniel 2?

Matt Baker reinterprets the statue in Daniel 2 as a representation of past kingdoms rather than future ones. The head of gold represents Babylon, the arms of silver represent the Medes, the thighs represent Persia, and the two legs represent the Greek kingdoms of the Ptolemies and Seleucids. The statue's destruction symbolizes the hope for an independent Judean kingdom during the time of writing.

What historical event does the 'little horn' in Daniel 7 refer to?

The 'little horn' in Daniel 7, which grows out of the fourth beast, is most likely a reference to Antiochus IV, the Seleucid king who persecuted the Jews, rather than a prediction of the Antichrist, as some interpretations suggest.

How does Matt Baker explain the '70 weeks' prophecy in Daniel 9?

Matt Baker explains that the '70 weeks' prophecy in Daniel 9 is a reinterpretation of the 70 years prophecy in Jeremiah. The 70 weeks (490 years) are divided into three periods, and Baker argues that the key event described—an abomination in the temple—likely refers to the actions of Antiochus IV rather than the death of Jesus.

What is the significance of the number 666 in the Book of Revelation?

The number 666 in Revelation is often interpreted as a code for Emperor Nero, the first Roman emperor to persecute Christians. By translating the Greek and Latin consonants into Hebrew, some scholars argue that the number refers to Nero’s name, symbolizing the oppressive Roman rule at the time.

What does the beast in Revelation 13 represent?

In Revelation 13, the beast with seven heads and ten horns is a symbol of the Roman Empire, which John describes as the successor to the four kingdoms depicted in Daniel. The beast is a representation of Rome's power and its persecution of Jews and Christians.

How does the imagery of the four horsemen in Revelation reflect the reality of the time?

The four horsemen in Revelation—representing war, famine, disease, and death—are not predictions of the future but reflect the harsh realities of Roman times. These themes were present in the world of the first century, with war, famine, and disease affecting the empire and its territories.

What is the significance of the four living creatures around God's throne in Revelation 4?

The four living creatures in Revelation 4, which are described as resembling a lion, ox, man, and eagle, draw from Ezekiel’s vision of angels. In Christian tradition, these creatures are often interpreted as representing the four gospel writers, each associated with a different creature: Matthew (man), Mark (lion), Luke (ox), and John (eagle).