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As we leave the first six chapters and enter chapter 7, we are leaving historical narrative behind and entering an apocalyptic section.
What is apocalyptic language?
Apocalyptic language is composed of symbols that are often lurid in color, violent in tone, and easily remembered. They strike the imagination and grab hold of the mind.
Such language is found in Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Isaiah, and even in the gospels and epistles.
What is the purpose of apocalyptic language?
It denotes conflict and victory.
It is used when God judges and smites an oppressor and vindicates his people.
It is used to describe times of crisis and judgment.
Why does God use apocalyptic language?
Some think that the language is used to hide the true meaning from hostile authorities and thus shield God’s people from retaliation.
This makes more sense with the book of Revelation than it does with the book of Daniel. Who are the hostile authorities in Daniel? The Jews were not being persecuted. Further, writing the message in Hebrew would no doubt have been sufficient to hide its meaning from the Chaldeans and the Persians.
I think the reason God uses such language is because of its emotional impact.
Apocalyptic books are oil paintings from God.
The vivid and violent language conveys emotional images while also conveying historical facts – just as a painting can convey emotions and facts.
Numbers 12:8 reminds us that God does not always speak clearly, but sometimes uses dark language. (Such language may be reserved for times of conflict and judgment.)
How do we interpret apocalyptic language?
We need to pay particular attention to numbers and periods of time. They have symbolic meanings that must be deduced from the evidence.
3 is the number of God.
12 is the number of God’s people.
10 is the number of completeness.
7 is the number of perfection.
6 is the number of imperfection.
8 is the number of renewal.
Apocalyptic language always has historical significance, so we must study history in order to interpret it properly.
The usual approach to scripture is to understand a passage literally unless we are forced to do otherwise.
For example, Jesus told us to cut off our right hand if it offends us. Was this a literal command or should we interpret it figuratively?
This is reversed for apocalyptic language – it should be understand figuratively unless we are forced to do otherwise.
Whatever we do, we should strive to be consistent. (Hal Lindsey says the 144,000 Jews in Revelation 7:4 are literal yet the locusts in Revelation 9:3 are cobra helicopters. John Walvoord says the 10 days in Revelation 2:10 are figurative yet the 1000 years in Revelation 20 are literal.)
The following principles are helpful in interpreting apocalyptic language.
(1) We should understand apocalyptic language figuratively unless we are forced to do otherwise. We should be consistent in our interpretations.
(2) Similarity of language does not prove identity of subjects. (There are many judgments in the Bible, but the same language is used to describe each – Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Edom. Jerusalem, Rome, the world.)
(3) Dissimilarity of language does not prove distinctness of subjects.
(4) Easy to understand scriptures should be used to understand harder passages. This basic principle of hermeneutics should be used whenever we study the Bible. We should be very wary of any interpretation of apocalyptic language that conflicts with easier passages found elsewhere. (Premillennialism is based entirely on Revelation 20 and as we know is in conflict with a host of other passages.)
(5) Mark Twain: “When you find yourselves on the side of the majority, it is probably time to change sides.” Keep in mind that more nonsense has been written about these books than any other Biblical subject. We must be discerning.
But shouldn’t we just take all scripture literally?
NO ONE takes all scripture literally.
Of course, when we say that we do not take all scripture literally we do not mean that we do not believe that all scripture is true. We know that God’s word is absolutely true and contains no falsehoods or inaccuracies – historical, scientific, or otherwise.
The question is not whether a particular passage is true, but is instead whether God is using literal language or figurative language to convey the truth to us.
To take Matthew 5:30 literally would require Christians to practice self-mutilation.
Is Genesis 3:15 a prophecy about snakes and humans or about God and Satan?
Was Hosea mistaken when he told Israel they were going into Egyptian captivity when they really went into Assyrian captivity – or did he simply know that to a Jew ‘Egypt’ denotes slavery and captivity?
To literally interpret Ezekiel 16:53–55 would require the resurrection of the Sodomites to their former prosperity despite what we read in Jude 7.
To literalize Ezekiel 37:22–25 would require David and not Jesus be Israel’s eternal king.
To literalize Isaiah 34:5–17 would require that Edom exist eternally here on earth and burn eternally while weeds and animals live in it.
NO ONE takes all scripture literally – indeed, it is not logically possible to do so. Instead we need to approach the scripture with the common sense that God has given to us and that he knew we had when he gave us his word. God wants a thinking people!
One last example: Matthew 24:21 and Ezekiel 5:9, in reference to different events, both claim that the event in question will be a greater calamity than anything that has occurred or will ever occur. Logically, this could not be literally true of both events! The solution is to recognize the language as hyperbole and reject the literal interpretation.
Sometimes one hears or reads Deuteronomy 29:29 applied to apocalyptic language.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The idea is that we shouldn’t worry about what books like Revelation and Daniel mean because they contain secret things that belong only to God. But does this make any sense?
The word apokalupsis in Greek means unveiled, uncovered, or revealed! Apocalyptic books do not contain secret things, they contain revealed things.
The Bible is meant to be understood – and if we don’t understand it, we shouldn’t blame our inability on God. He wants us to understand his word.
Apocalyptic language is meant to convey comfort to those suffering captivity or persecution. What would it say about God if he offered us comfort but worded it in such a way that we could never receive that comfort? He wants us to understand his word.
Final comments before we begin:
Many different interpretations about the following passages have been given. Without discussing all of the other opinions, I will largely confine my efforts to presenting and providing evidence for my own opinions.
While it is hard in some places to be dogmatic, it is not impossible. Also, our inability at some points to state with certainty what a passage means does not imply that it could mean anything. We can, even in those cases, still often state with certainty what the passage does not mean.
We all have preconceptions about what this book says or does not say. Countless sermons, for example, have used Daniel 12 to preach about the end of the world. We must, however, keep an open mind regarding the evidence in this book. Remember, however, Chesterton’s comment that an open mind is only useful when it clamps down on something solid.
Of course, it goes without saying that whatever is said about these passages should be checked carefully with the word.
In Mark 4 and Luke 8 we find two commands of Christ that have largely been ignored.
Mark 4:24 Take heed what you hear.
Luke 8:18 Take heed how you hear.
Hearing is not a neutral activity. Jesus told us to be active hearers and to watch both how and what we hear. (This is not directed just to our leaders, but it is directed to every Christian. This is a very important responsibility that we shouldn’t turn over to anyone else.)
This is particularly crucial today when so many are twisting the scriptures to their own and their listeners’ destruction.
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