Philippians 2:10-11 ESV
Revelation in the Old Testament as allusions to OT content, people, places and events.
John sees Revelation in the Old Testament prophecies, people, places and events. The visions in the book of Revelation, are allusions to visions in the prophetic books, particularly Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the Psalms. He repurposes these sources writing the Apocalypse of John. There are hundreds of references and allusions, more than in any other New Testament book.
Yet, none of these references or allusions have direct, word for word complete citations to Revelation in the Old Testament. This general lack of direct citations, mostly stems from John’s use of allusions from the Septuagint (LXX), or the Masoretic Text (MT), or non-canonical writings of Second Temple Judaism, like the book of Enoch, which both Peter and Jude quoted.
Revelation in the Old Testament used as literary prototype
in Revelation 13 and 17
A prophecy is a prediction of future events.
A prototype is a foreshadowing of a future event.
An example of a prototype is the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb for atonement of sin.
That sacrifice is a prototype of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
John uses OT patterns, content, structure, or clusters of allusions from Daniel chapters 2 and 7, in segments of Revelation chapters 13 and 17. He sees Revelation in the Old Testament literary prototypes.
Revelation 13:1-2 …English Standard Version
The First Beast
13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.
Daniel 7:3 ...ESV
3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Revelation 17:14 …ESV
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Daniel 2:47 …ESV
47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”
John uses analogies from the Old Testament
in Revelation 8:7,12
John sees Revelation in the Old Testament persons, places and events via analogies in Revelation 8:7,12.
Revelation 8:7 …ESV
The Seven Trumpets
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
Exodus 9:23-24 …ESV
23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Revelation 8:12 ...ESV
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
Exodus 10:21-22 …ESV
The Ninth Plague: Darkness
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all land of Egypt three days
John uses Old Testament analogies in Revelation 16
John repurposes Old Testament persons, places and events via analogies in Revelation 16:2,21
John sees Revelation in the Old Testament persons, places and events via analogies in Revelation 16:2 from Exodus 9:10 and in Revelation 16:21 from Exodus 9:23-25
Revelation 16:2 …ESV
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
Exodus 9:10 …ESV
10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.
Revelation 16:21 …ESV
21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Exodus 9:23-25 …ESV
23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field.
Revelation 16:2 …ESV
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
Exodus 9:10 …ESV
10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.
Revelation 16:21 …ESV
21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Exodus 9:23-25 …ESV
23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field.
Universalization of Old Testament theological content
That applies to Israel and applying it to the gentiles also
John makes Old Testament theological content That applies to believing Israel, apply to believing gentiles also.
Revelation 1:6 …ESV
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:9-10 …ESV
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Exodus 19:6 …English Standard Version
6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Typological fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy
The Apostle sees typological fulfillment in Revelation 1 and 3, of OT prophecy.
With respect to foreseeing the future, a prophecy is a verbal prediction. A “type” is a non-verbal foreshadowing of something to come
Revelation 1:18 …ESV
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 3:7 …ESV
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Isaiah 22:22 …ESV
22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
The point of the above is Jesus holds the power over salvation and judgment.
Revelation 1:18 emphasizes His sovereignty over death and judgment.
Revelation 3:7 emphasizes His authority over those entering the Kingdom
The point of the above is Jesus holds the power over salvation and judgment. Revelation 1:18 emphasizes His sovereignty over death and judgment. Revelation 3:7 emphasizes His authority over those entering the Kingdom
Inverted use of Old Testament prophecy in Revelation
Certain Isaiah passages depict Gentiles bowing down before Israel in recognition of their elect status as God’s chosen people.
The Apostle John inverts this imagery in Revelation, having the Jews who persecuted the early church, believing Jews and gentiles, bow down to all believers at the second coming of Jesus Christ
Revelation 3:9 …ESV
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold,I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
Isaiah 45:14…ESV
The Lord, the Only Savior
14 Thus says the Lord: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.’”
Isaiah 49:23 …ESV
23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”
John sees Revelation in the Old Testament prophecy and Psalms worship. He uses over 380 references and allusions in his Apocalypse, so that we might also see the Revelation in Old Testament prophecy and worship songs.
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