By Beth Ann Phifer on Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Category: The Book of Revelation

Revelation - 2. Overview – Themes

2. Overview – Themes
Print the two-page PDF

Two Core Themes, Four Theological Themes, and Four Themes in Yeshua's Teaching Reflected in Revelation:

Two Core Themes

  1. Chapters 4 and 5The full realization of God’s presence, and Yeshua’s role as the Lamb Who brings about God’s purposes for His Kingdom to be fully realized.

  2. Chapters 12 and 13The cosmic struggle between us and satan (the dragon/serpent), the beasts he empowers, and the result of his resistance against God’s purposes (the suffering of the Faithful Witnesses). John wants his readers to embrace the reality of the political, religious, and economic powers in the world that do dragon work and cause suffering, whether or not they are experiencing it in the moment.

Four Theological Themes

  1. The Establishment of the Cosmic Rule of God – Yahweh, the King of creation, will bring creation to its rightful conclusion and its full expression through the self-sacrificial death of the Davidic King, Yeshua, not through the Jewish expectation of a militaristic leader.

  2. The Role of Faithful Witness (FW) – We are His Image Bearers. He invites us, blesses us, and gives us opportunity to oppose evil and establish His redemptive kingdom. We are FWs by:

    • Mirroring Jesus. John urges the First Century, Asia Minor, Jewish Christians (FCAM JC) to follow in his footsteps.

    • Giving our worship and allegiance to Him over any other earthly power!

    • Resisting nonviolently against the evil forces of this world. Our engagement in intense political, economic, environmental, and social issues is the criteria to be a FW. John cares about those who suffer from this engagement. We are a part of His new heaven and new earth project.

  3. The Defeat of Evil – and the inauguration of shalom.

  4. The Consummation of the Kingdom (the New Heaven and the New Earth) – Chapters 21 and 22 are John’s goal. Evil has been defeated, the FWs vindicated, and Yahweh’s kingdom established.

Four Themes in Yeshua’s Teaching Reflected in Revelation
John did not have access to the Gospel accounts as we know them. He relied on the Gospel traditions and the stories passed down about Yeshua.

  1. The 7 Blessings
    The similarity between Matthew 5 and Revelation verses:

    • 1:3 – “Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it for the time is near.”

    • 14:13 – And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors for their deeds follow with them.”

    • 16:15 – “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked, and people will not see his shame.”

    • 19:9 – Then He said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” And He said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

    • 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

    • 22:7 – “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

    • 22:14 – “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the city by the gates.”

  2. The Fulfillment of the Kingdom
    The similarity of Matthew 6:10 and Revelation 11:15-18. (Also, see the similarity of Matthew 6 and Revelation 8:15, 16:18-21, 21 and 22):

3. The Predictions of the Suffering and Vindication for Disciples

4. The Role of Faithful Witness
    The similarity of Matthew 28 and Revelation 11:3:

Shale Fragments™ - devotionals by Beth Ann Phifer is a division of Flower Girl Greetings, LLC. ©2023, All Rights Reserved.
Blessings and love in Him,
Beth Ann

Related Posts

Leave Comments