This document explores the biblical theology of mission in an urban context through the analysis of the book of Revelation, emphasizing its nature as an apocalypse, prophecy, and epistle. It outlines John's depiction of Christ as the triumphant figure amidst persecution and provides interpretations of the eschatological themes within the text. The document also discusses the implications for the church in contemporary missions, especially concerning social justice and urban ministry.

1. TUL500 Biblical Theology of Mission in an Urban Context
Revelations: The Final Cosmic Battle
Eschatology
Viv Grigg & Kevin Young
Dec 2014, 2017,8
Developed as a resource for the MATUL Training Commission
and for APU-MATUL

2. The Nature of Revelation
• Authored by John, son of Zebedee,
toward the end of the first century
(c. 95 AD).
o A vision that came to John on the
Island of Patmos (1:9).
• John’s purpose appears to be to
encourage the church by revealing
the triumphant Christ in the midst
of persecuted church.
o It was written primarily under the
harsh rule of Domitian (81-96).
• John of Patmos icon simonjenkins' photos on flickr
• Consists of three types of literature:

3. The Nature of Revelation
1. Apocalypse: a disclosure of knowledge or revelation. In religious and
occult concepts it is usually a disclosure of something hidden, "a vision
of heavenly secrets that can make sense of earthly realities"
• Dozens of apocalypses were written between 200 BC to 200 A.D.
• Emerged from the writings of Ezekiel, Daniel, Zachariah, and parts of
Isaiah.
• Concerned about the coming judgment and salvation of the people of
God and are generally born out of persecution or oppression.
• So, their concern was no longer with God's activity within history but
they looked forward to a time when God will bring a violent, radical end
to history.
• They are generally written in symbolic language, so the oppressing
classes cannot understand.

4. The Nature of Revelation
2. Prophecy:
• John, being in the spirit spoke of the new age (1:10–11).
• He describes this book as prophecy (1:3, 22:18-19).
• He says that the testimony of Jesus, for which he and the churches
are suffering (1:9, 20:4), is the spirit of prophecy (19:10).

5. The Nature of Revelation
3. Epistle:
• All of the elements of a letter are present (1:4–7 and 22:21).
• Written in first person.
• Sent to the seven churches of Asia minor.
• An occasional document.

6. The Setting of Revelation
The Occasion?
• Persecution was no longer spasmodic and local, but systematic
and widespread.
o No trace of fear or defeatism.
• It begins with John's vision of the risen and glorified Christ.
• It recalls the oracles of earlier prophets who lived and ministered in
times of crisis.
• It inspires the faithful to endure: Jesus risen, triumphant, glorious,
invincible, holding the churches safely in his strong right hand.
This is what a persecuted church needs.

7. The Setting of Revelation
John shows familiarity with Israel’s history and knows that they had been
slaves, nomads, vassals, exiles and martyrs.
His visions held similarities with other divine appearances to the Prophets
(it is full of over 360 allusions to the Old testament
https://www.scribd.com/document/7240061/Allusions-in-Revelation):
• Moses had seen God in the Burning bush and "hid his face for he was
afraid to look upon God" (Exodus. 3:6).
• Isaiah saw the Lord seated upon his throne high and lifted up, and the
vision of his kingly majesty shaped his entire message (Isaiah 6).
• Ezekiel saw his glory on "the likeness of the throne" (Ezk. 1).
• Daniel saw him on the banks of the Tigris (Dan. 10:2–9).

8. The Setting of Revelation
• John weaves the language and imagery of earlier oracles
throughout his prophecies.
• A triumphant refrain "the Lord reigns" to his audience with an
unwavering confidence in Christ's victory.
• He confidently maintains that his revelation from God to his church
"God gave it to his servants" (Rev. 1:1).

9. Image of Christ
John's purpose is practical not academic: What a persecuted church
needs is a vision of Jesus.
Jesus is depicted:
• Among the lamp stands (1:22-2:1)
• As the lion (5:5)
• As the lamb (5:6)
• Lord of the whole Earth (11:4, 8)
• Man child (12:1–6)
• Warrior riding a white horse (19:11–6)
• Husband of the bride (21:1–9)
These are not chronological images but varying perspectives of the
same image.

10. The Kingdom of God
Old Testament New
Testament
Future Reign

11. The Expansion of the Kingdom

12. Jaques Ellul: City of God, City of Man
Urbanization
Nimrod
Babel
Abraham sees a city
Joseph rules Egypt
Promised land
David of Jerusalem
Solomon
Exile in Babylon
Rebuilding Jerusalem
Jesus & Jerusalem
Death
Resurrection
Coming of the Spirit
Urban Church
Final Urban Conflict
Heavenly City
Rise of
Global
Babylo
n
From Kevin Young

13. Interpretations of Revelation (George Eldon Ladd)
Interpretations:
• Futurist has no message for the churches for which John writes
except that which is written in chapters 1–3. They are events yet to
occur made popular by the “Left Behind” series.
• Preterists sees these events as a depiction of John's present,
rejecting the idea that these are God’s words to the universal
Church of all generations.
• Historicists maintain that the revelation is a historical account of the
church from John’s day to the end of time, detailing the events of the
church and world events.
• Idealists view revelation as a pictorial, symbolic unfolding of great
principles and constant conflict. None of the events are actual, but
merely illustrate the struggle between good and evil in allegorical
style.

14. Four Views of the End Times
Premillenialism
• Historical
• Society grows increasingly evil
• The church has replaced Israel
as the true Israel
• Dispensational
• Rapture
• Society grows increasingly evil
• God will give the land to Israel
as a nation
• Amillenialism
• Spiritual reign of Jesus in the
heart
• References to Israel are
symbolic references to the
people of God on earth
• Postmillenialism
• Society gradually improves
through preaching of the
gospel

15. Revelations –Grand Showdown Between
the Kingdom and the Powers
The Kingdom
• The Church Age (ch. 1-3)
• The Throne Room (4)
• The Scroll & the Lamb (5)
• Tribulation 7 seals, 7 angels, 7
plagues, 144,000, multitudes,
7 trumpets (6-16)
• The Two Witnesses (11)
• Battle of Armeggadon (16:16)
• Fall of Babylon (17-18)
• Judgement on the Nations(19)
• Millennium on Earth
Final Judgement (20)
• New Heavens & Earth (21-22)
The Evil Powers
• Rome, and other persecutors
• Global Oppression expands
through a one world
government – political,
economic, religious
• Powers are bound then
released for a season
• Powers and their followers
judged
• Eternal Damnation

16. Interpretive Keys in
Revelations
Some symbols are defined by
the author, others lead to
much speculation
• 7, 144, 1000 These are symbolic
numbers of perfection and
completion
• The woman who gave birth to a son
(12:4) – Mary or Israel?
• The dragon – Satan, the devil (12:9)
• (7:4) 144,000? Are they Jewish
tribes or as some say believers
• The beast? The Roman empire, or
more broadly the deification of
secular authority or the final anti-
Christ, who exercises such authority,
based on Daniel’s vision of four
great beasts – he has elements of all
four of Daniels beasts.
Timings in Revelations
linked to Daniel’s visions
• 42 months= 1260 days = 3 ½ years
=time, times and half a time (Rev 11:2;
12:14; 13:5)
• Dan 9:27 splits up the final 7 years of
Jerusalem.
• cf Dan 7:25 the saints will be handed
over to the fourth beast for the first 3
½
• Dan 12:7, 11. 3 ½ years then then the
power of the holy people has been
finally broken, all these things will be
complete. From the time that the
abomination that causes desolation is
set up is 1290 days. Blessed is the one
who waits and reaches the end of 1335
days.
There are many other “aspersions”
to OT references and symbols.

17. The vision of 1000 years(forever) of Peace
Ezekiel 37:20-28
• I will take them from the nations
(also 38:25)
• I will gather them
• They will live in safety
• They will be my people
• I will be their God
• They will live in the land I gave
to my servant Jacob (this is quite
specific to land, and puts at rest
the argument that the church
has supplanted the Jewish
people, so the promises are
spiritual).
After the return
• A people from the far north
(many identify Russia as Gog)
and many others will come to
attack (Ezekiel 38,39).
• He will pour out his Spirit on
the Jewish people (39:29).

18. 1st and 2nd Resurrection
Daniel 12
At that time, Michael, the
great prince who protects
your people will arise, There
will be a time of great
distress. Your people –
names written in the book –
will be delivered. Multitudes
who sleep in the dust of the
earth will awake, some to
everlasting life,; some to
shame and everlasting
contempt
Revelations 20
• 20:4 The martyrs
resurrected and reign for
1000 years
• 20:5 The second
resurrection, after the
1000 years
• This will be a judgement
of all. Thrown into the
lake of fire if their names
were not found in the
book of life.

19. A Fundamentalist Dispensational View of the Eschaton

22. Michael and Satan
Guido Reni, c 1636
• This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries
and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or
less.

23. The Garden in the City (Rev 21-22)
We began with the Garden. Just as the opening word of Scripture
speaks of God and creation, so the concluding word speaks of God
and re-creation. The Garden is now in the City.

24. The Garden in the City
A New Heaven and a New Earth
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was
no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared
as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s
dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell
with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be
with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from
their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

25. The Garden in the City
Eden Restored
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of
life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street
of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of
life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every
month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of
the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The
throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and
his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and
his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no
more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or
the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them
light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

26. Biblical Future: Looking Ahead
• When is the next event?
• Return of Israel 1948, and its survival
miraculously
• The amassing of the armies?
o A pathway from Moscow and China for
armies
o Rise of Anti -Christ desecration of the temple
o The Return of the Messiah
• We go out to welcome him and return
with him
• His reign for 1000 years?
• A New Heavens and a New Earth?

27. Implications for us among the poor
• When the gospel has been preached to all nations, then the
end will come.
o This is for the sake of the conversion of the Jewish
peoples
o We are not mandated to pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but to
preach the good news of his reign to the nations.
• We oppose the Powers, including the high paid failed
politicians and executives of the UN, the IMF, the WTO
and their development goals, while good, hide other
agendas.

28. Implications for us among the poor
• We remain the only independent voice as the church
against the integrated global oppression of the Capitalist
class or the bureaucratic class of Marxism.
• We have a future hope in the midst of the failures of
international development
o We work for a crown
o Well done, good and faithful servant.

29. Implications for us among the poor
• We have a future hope in the midst of the failures of
international development
o We work for a crown
o Well done, good and faithful servant.

30. Source Readings
• Dyrness, W. (1998). The end and goal of creation: The new
heaven and the new earth. Let the Earth Rejoice! A Biblical
Theology of Holistic Mission. Pasadena: Wipf and Stock.
Chap 14.
• Bellingham, G. R. (1987). The eschaton. A Biblical Approach
to Social Transformation. Philadelphia, Eastern Baptist
Seminary. Chap 20.
• Glasser, Arthur F., and Charles Engen Edward Van.
(2003). Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God's Mission
in the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
• Ladd, George Eldon. (1974). A Theology of the New
Testament. Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans.
• Sider, Ronald J. (1982). Evangelicals and Development:
Toward a Theology of Social Change. Philadelphia:
Westminster.

31. Credits
Chart No 7: The Church vs The Kingdom. Designed and
Drawn by Clarence Larkin, FoxChase, Philadelphia, PA .
Rose Publishing. 2016. Four Views of the End Times. Roses
Book of Charts, Maps and Time Lines. 7th Edition. Rose
Publishing. Pg. 167-168.
Music, selections from Handel’s Messiah.