Just as the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Dan 4) was to change the king's way of life, so Revelation's dreams and visions point toward specific acts of human faithfulness to God. Dreams lead to exhortations for right living. In fact, the very heart of Revelation, embedded in one of John's dramatic descriptions, is one such call to action. Before we can repeat that call, however, it is necessary to locate the heart of the book of Revelation.
Revelation, like other works of biblical literature, is built upon certain textual features which point to a central message. In biblical literature, meaning goes hand-in-hand with structure. That which is textually central is central in terms of message. John's primary purpose for conveying his dreams to others may be found at the literal center of the text of Revelation. In Revelation, that center may be found amidst Revelation's repetitions of the number 7.
Revelation features a long middle section (6:1-16:21), so marked because it encompasses three completed series of "sevens". The first "seven" begins in chapter 6, when "the Lamb that was slaughtered", first seen in chapter 5, begins to open the seven seals of the scroll which he was worthy to take from the hand of the one seated upon the throne. This is followed by a second series of "sevens"--seven angels blowing seven trumpets (8:2-11:19). Finally, seven plagues, or "bowls of God's wrath", are poured out upon the earth (15:1-16:21). This is the third "seven".
Of course, it should be noted that seven is a prime number in the Bible, ubiquitous and rich in meaning. God created the heavens and the earth in seven days. After seven sevens or forty-nine years, Israel enjoyed a Jubilee year--rest for the land, return of property to previous owners, release of slaves (Lev 25). If the seventh day of creation meant rest for God, so too the fullness of time after seven sevens for God's creation. Seven was synonymous with rest and freedom after the labor. At the Bible School last weekend, students pointed out other sevens.
- Joseph's dreams, seven fat and skinny cows (fourteen in all) meaning seven years of plenty succeeded by seven years of scarcity, and seven ears of healthy and sickly grain, meaning the same (Gen 41).
- Naaman's washings in the River Jordan, cleansing him of his leprosy (2 Kgs 5).
- seven words of Jesus from the cross (which is, of course, a compilation from the four gospels). A service of the seven words is a tradition on Good Friday for many churches here.
As seven relates to the book of Daniel, we also pointed out two sevens from the stories we told. The fiery furnace into which were cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the price of their obedience to God, was heated "seven times" beyond normal. Yet beyond the sevenfold wrath of Nebuchadnezzar's oven, the three friends of Daniel came out unscathed (Dan 3). For failing to heed the prophecy of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society until "seven times" should "pass over" him, after which he would learn of the sovereignty of God. Nebuchadnezzar's return to power, his exaltation as it were, did not come without a sevenfold humiliation (Dan 4).
All these sevens add up, not to some mathematical sum, but to a theological truth. In the fullness of time, after what will be has been, upon completion, after seven "days", creation is new.
But in the midst of those sevens, there is labor. In the heart of the sevens there is pain. In the belly of the sevens there is tumult. And so it is with Revelation.
Each of the three sevens in the heart of Revelation tells of suffering. If by some chance the reader could miss that suffering, the text underscores it with another sequence in the exact center of the three sevens. Amidst the middle seven, the seven trumpets, are "three woes" (8:13-9:12; 9:13-10:14; 12:12). They begin right where one might expect them to begin, after the fourth trumpet is blown, in the middle or second sequence of the three sevens (8:12-13). Within the three sevens, thus, is another three. Amidst the three sevens of suffering are three woes. And amidst the three woes, as one might expect--"let anyone with an ear to hear listen" (see the refrain of Rev 2-3)--is the central call of Revelation, the Word of God for his people.
That call may be found in Revelation 12, and that will be the subject of my next post.
-Joe
No comments:
Post a Comment