Issues in the book of Revelation
by Frank B. Holbrook
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The distinctive frame that holds together the picture of biblical truth as taught by Seventh-day Adventists is their under standing of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. In these prophecies the Adventist people have found their times, their identity, and their task. Jesus Christ is at the center of the prophetic Word and its dynamic in the Adventist faith (John 14:29; 2 Peter 1:19).
Seventh-day Adventists arrived at their interpretation of Bible prophecy by employing the principles of the historical "school" of prophetic interpretation, sometimes called the historicist method or the continuous historical method. The historicist method accepts the assumption that the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are intended to unfold and to find fulfillment in historical time in the span between the prophets Daniel and John, respectively, and the final establishment of God's eternal kingdom. The year-day principle (a symbolic day equals a literal year) is an integral part of the method inasmuch as it functions to unroll the symbolic time periods so that we are able to locate the predicted events along the highway of history.
Jesus employed the historicist method when He announced the time of His ministry as a fulfillment of prophecy (Mark 1:15; cf. Dan. 9:25), and later, when He referred to the prophesied ruin of Jerusalem and the Temple (Matt. 24:15; cf: Dan. 9:26). The Millerites, our immediate forebears, were historicists, as were also the sixteenth century Protestant Reformers.
In its endeavor to meet Protestant interpretations, the Roman Catholic Church introduced preterism and futurism as counter methods of interpretation. These methods are the roots of two schools of present-day interpretation of Daniel and Revelation. The preterist/ historical-critical position regards the prophecies of Daniel as meeting fulfillment in the times and events of second century B.C. Palestine and restricts Revelation to the first centuries A.D. Futurism slices off the seventieth week of Daniel's 70-week prophecy, placing it at the end of the age, where it also expects the fulfillment of most of the book of Revelation.
Today, Seventh-day Adventists virtually stand alone as exponents of the historicist method. The Daniel and Revelation Committee wishes to reaffirm again to our world church the validity of the historicist approach to these two apocalyptic books as the only sound method to use. Our pioneers did not follow "cunningly devised fables" when they searched and preached the truths of these prophecies. They have passed on to us a rich heritage. We call our members to a renewed study of these grand prophetic books that continue to give certainty and stability to our personal faith in Christ and His coming and to the worldwide outreach of the Advent people in this solemn era of God's judgment activity in the heavenly sanctuary (Rev. 14:6-14; Dan. 7:9, 10, 13, 14).
Not all segments of Daniel and Revelation are as clearly understood as others. There is a tendency for some earnest persons to focus on the lesser understood portions to such an extent that they miss the grand sweep of the clearer passages and the important theological truths they present for our times. It is the desire to unlock these obscure portions that prompts the tendency to alter method and to employ unsound principles in order to find satisfactory solutions. Two sections of Revelation fall into this category especially: the seals (Rev. 4:1-8:1) and the trumpets (Rev. 8:2-11:17). While the church may never fully understand these portions of the larger prophecy, we can learn important lessons from them, and we would dis courage no one from study.
The committee at present has not developed a satisfactory interpretation of these prophecies that solves all the problems inherent in them, but it has come to agreement on some general principles and some specific insights. If we would preserve the truth and secure a true interpretation of these challenging prophecies, our study must be within the parameters of sound principles of interpretation. The committee agrees on the following points and submits them to our pastors and members for their prayerful consideration.
General principles
The committee agrees that. . .
1. The literary structure of the book of Revelation divides it into two major sections: (1) a historical section (Rev. 1-14) that emphasizes the experience of the church and related events during the Christian Era; (2) an eschatological (endtime) section (Rev. 15-22) that focuses particularly on end-time events and the end of the world.
Although Bible students differ on the precise point where the dividing line should be placed, serious study by Adventist scholars such as Kenneth A. Strand (Interpreting the Book of Revelation, 2nd ed., 1979), C. M. Maxwell (God Cares, volume 2, 1985), and W. H. Shea (various articles in Andrews University Seminary Studies) fully confirm this literary division and its consequent effect on interpretation.
2. The series of the seals (Rev. 4:1-8:1) and trumpets (Rev. 8:2-11:17) occur in the historical section of Revelation.
Consequently their fulfillment should be sought for in historical time, the Christian Era.
3. The prophecies of the seals and the trumpets have only one prophetic fulfillment.
a. The Daniel model of apocalyptic prophecy is clear on this point: each metal, beast, and horn has only one fulfillment (even the "little horn" that Daniel 8 used as a symbol for Rome in its two phases has only one fulfillment: Rome). There is no contextual evidence that the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be given dual/multiple fulfillments. This proposition was examined at length and rejected by the Sanctuary Review Committee (representatives from the world divisions) in 1980 (see "Statement on Desmond Ford Document," Ministry, October 1980) and by the Daniel and Revelation Committee ("Fulfillments of Prophecy," The Seventy Weeks, Leviticus, and the Nature of Prophecy, pp. 288-322). Neither are dual/multiple fulfillments of Daniel/Revelation supported by Ellen White (See BRI tract: "Ellen G. White and the Interpretation of Daniel and Revelation").
b. Dual fulfillment may be present in some general/classic prophecies in which there are contextual markers indicating such (for example, the prophecy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Joel 2; the prophecy of the virgin birth, Isaiah7). But no such markers are present in the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. Furthermore, there is no biblical support for holding a symbolic "day" to equal a literal day in an alleged dual fulfillment in these books.
c. In regard to the trumpets, Revelation itself makes an end-time application of the language of the trumpets in its description of the seven last plagues. It is therefore an unnecessary pressing of these scriptures to place both the trumpets and the plagues in a simultaneous post-probation fulfillment.
Seals Revelation 4:1-8:1
The committee agrees that. . .
Setting:
1. Revelation 4 and 5 are a unit and describe the same scene (Rev. 4:2; 5:1).
2. Revelation 4 and 5 portray a throne scene in the heavenly sanctuary (cf. Rev. 4:2, 3; 8:3).
3. The emphasis of the throne scene is upon Christ's atoning death, His accomplishment at the cross (Rev. 5:6, 9, 12).
4. The throne scene is not the investigative judgment of Daniel 7:9, 10.
a. The Revelation scene is not designated a judgment; the Daniel scene is (Dan. 7:10, 26).
b. The Revelation scene,has only one book; it is in the Father's hand; it is closed and sealed; no being in the universe except the Lamb can open it; the book is never opened in the vision.
By contrast, in the Daniel scene there are two or more books; they are open; it is implied that they were opened for the Ancient of Days by the attending holy beings (verse 10).
Time frame:
1. The throne scene stands at the commencement of the Christian Era.
a. John is shown (by the sequential opening of the seals) "things which must be hereafter" (Rev. 4:1; cf. 1:1, 19).
b. The Father's throne (Rev. 4), the overcoming of Christ (Rev. 5:5), and His joining the Father at His throne (verse 6, cf. Rev. 3:21) are central themes in this throne scene (Rev. 4; 5). The victorious redeemed join the throne scene in Revelation 7 (verses 9, 10). Between these two throne scenes lie the seal events of Revelation 6. Thus the seals of Revelation 6 are to be located between the cross-victory of Christ and the victory of the redeemed, that is, in the Christian Era.
c. The terrestrial and celestial signs of the sixth seal (earthquake, sun, moon, stars, Rev. 6:12, 13) occur in historical, probationary time at the end of the age to forewarn of the Second Coming (cf. Matt 24:29). This suggests that the events in seals 1 to 5 occur in historical time between the cross and these signs.
General observations on the seals:
1. The imagery of the four horses and their colors is drawn from Zechariah 1:8-11; 6:1-6; 10:3, but is employed by John to symbolize a different message than that conveyed by Zechariah.
2. The seals are sequential, representing succeeding events across the Christian Era. This is evidenced by the order of the vision: the seals are broken one after another, not all at the same time (Rev. 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).
3. The seals offer a general progression of history rather than a detailed chronology; their interpretation, therefore, is not bound specifically to the prophecy of the seven churches.
4. The seals appear to be a parallel development of Mat thew 24 and 25 (the Synoptic Apocalypse). This link is an other evidence for their fulfillment in the Christian Era:
a. Preaching of the gospel (Matt. 24:14) a. First seal: white horse (Rev. 6:2)
b. Wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes (Matt. 24:6-8) b. Second-fourth seals: war, famine, pestilences (Rev. 6:4-8)
c. Period of great tribulation persecution (Matt. 24:21) c. Fifth seal: cry of martyrs to be avenged (Rev. 6:10, 11)
d. Signs in sun, moon, stars (Rev. 24:29) d. Sixth seal: earthquake, signs in sun, moon, stars (Rev. 6:12, 13)
e. Second Coming (Matt. 24:30, 31) e. Sixth seal: "The great day of his wrath is come" (Rev. 6:14-17)
f. Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46) f. Seventh seal: "silence in heaven" (Rev. 8:1). Possibly millennial or executive
phases of the final judgment (Rev. 20:4; 11-15)
5. While there are similarities between the seals and the synoptic apocalypse (Matt. 24; 25), there are also differences. In some instances the symbolism appears to extend the mean ing beyond a simple repetition of Matthew 24. For example:
a. If the first seal symbolizes initially the apostolic out reach with the gospel (cf. Zech. 10:3), then the changing colors of the horses (white, red, black, pale/green) suggest progressively deepening apostasy.
b. The physical signs such as wars, famines, and pestilences would be transmuted by the symbolism to portray the additional features God's people would have to live through: unrest because of religious differences; famine for God's truth; severe persecutions of Christians by Christians.
c. Since Christian apostasy appears to be present in seals 2 to 4, the unhappy events depicted in these seals may reflect the imagery of the covenant woes/curses predicted to occur when the covenant is broken (cf. Lev. 26:14-39).
6. While each of the first four seals has an initial beginning, the action once begun may continue on with varying degrees of intensity.
a. First seal. Although begun by the apostles, the preach ing of the gospel continues across the era. The martyrs under the fifth seal are told that more will yet be killed (Rev. 6:11).
b. Apocalyptic models for this kind of symbolism: (1) The lingering influence of the four beasts after an initial sequential rule (Dan. 7:12); (2) the sequential messages of the three angels continue on after their initial announcement (Rev. 14:6-12).
7. The first seal represents the gospel message beginning in the first century (Rev. 6:2).
The fifth seal represents the persecutions of the Middle Ages (verses 9-11).
The sixth seal relates to the signs of Christ's Second Coming (verses 12-17).
The seventh seal relates to some event of cosmic significance after the Second Coming (Rev. 8:1).
8. The sealing activity of Revelation 7:1-8 is included in the time frame of the sixth seal and is the response to the question: "The great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17).
9. The earthquake, sun, moon, and stars of the sixth seal are literal, and the opening of the sixth seal begins with the Lisbon earthquake.
10. The celestial signs in the sixth seal may have natural/ physical causes (cf. opening of the Red Sea, Ex. 14:21); never theless, they are significant events because they occur at the right time in connection with the 1260-year period of persecution (cf. Mark 13:24).
Trumpets—Revelation 8:2-11:17
The committee agrees . . .
1. The trumpets are sequential as evidenced by their occur ring one after another in the vision.
2. The trumpets appear as warnings or announcements of adverse events to come (cf. Num. 10:1-10).
3. A particular trumpet event may occupy an extensive period of time (Rev. 9:5, 15; 10:7).
4. Revelation 10:1-11:13 is an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets (just as Revelation 7 is an interlude, between the sixth and seventh seals) and belongs under the sixth trumpet (other than the flashback to the 1260-year period, Rev. 11:3).
5. The trumpet events occur in historical, probationary time.
a. Introduction (Rev. 8:2-6): Functioning as an announcement of the upcoming seven trumpets, verses 2 and 6 are markers to form a literary inclusio around the two processes described in verses 3-5: (1) The ongoing intercessory ministry of Christ (verses 3,4). (2) The cessation of Christ's intercessory ministry and the close of human probation (verse 5; cf. Eze. 10:1-7).
This literary device, an inclusio-introduction, definitely ties the trumpet event series to the era of Christ's high priestly intercession, probationary time.
b. Seventh trumpet: The sounding of the seventh trumpet is linked with the finishing of "the mystery of God" (Rev. 10:7). "The mystery of God" is the gospel and its proclamation (Eph. 3:4; 6:19; Col. 4:3; Rom. 16:25, 26). If the seventh trumpet is tied to the closing up of the gospel work, the gospel dispensation, then the preceding six trumpets must of necessity sound during probationary time.
c. Golden altar: Reference to the golden altar of incense at the commencement of the sixth trumpet is a marker in the prophecy, indicating that Christ's priestly intercession is still in process (Rev. 9:13; cf. Rev. 8:3, 4).
d. Interlude (see No. 4 above; cf. Rev. 9:12; 11:14): Gospel work is carried on under the sixth trumpet. (1) The church (symbolized by John) is to preach "again" to "many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings" (Rev. 10:11). (2) People can re pent and give glory to God (Rev. 11:13; cf. 16:9).
e. Time periods: The presence of a time period in the fifth trumpet (and possibly in the sixth) is a marker indicating that these trumpets appear in historical time before the close of human probation.