- Apocalyptic Despair and Messianic
Expectation
a. In the light of events in the world of this
time, Second Temple (after the Exile)
Judaism produced a number of literary
works about the End Times. The best
example stands as the last book in the
New Testament, the Apocalypseor
Revelation of John.
b. While not all Second Temple Jews
were waiting for a messiah, some
or perhaps many Jews were
expecting the restoration of the
Davidic kingly line and the reuniting
of the twelve tribes.
c. Daniel, the latest book in the canon
(near the end of second century BCE)
contains a vision which includes the
idea of a “Son of Man,” or a messiah
that is slain after a fierce battle (Dan.
9:26).
d. There were several contemporary fig-
ures that are interspersed in Josephus’
accounts that could easily fit into the
mold of a messiah. Jesus of Nazareth
was one of that company (Ant. 18.3.3).
e. Jesus was born in 4 BCE, the year
Herod, the first Roman-installed king,
died.
NUMBER SYMBOLISM IN THE
BOOK OF REVELATION
The Book of Revelation is a vision
set forth in elaborate and arcane
symbols, of the events that will bring
the current world order to an end,
and introduce in its stead a new and
perfected earth, figured in the text as
the “New Jerusalem.” By envisioning
history in cosmic terms, using sym-
bolic imagery, John sought to com-
fort and encourage the Church dur-
ing the time of Roman persecution.
To interpret Revelation, one must
come to know the symbolic meaning
of the terms being used in almost the
same way as a person trying to
break a code. An understanding of
numerology is helpful. Many num-
bers have symbolic meaning. Thus,
seven symbolizes completeness and
perfection. God's work of creation
was complete and perfect and com-
pleted in seven days. The seven
churches (Rev. 2:3) symbolize by
their number all the churches. After
seven, the most significant number is
twelve. The tribes of Israel and the
disciples number twelve. New
Jerusalem has twelve gates. Its walls
have twelve foundations (21:12-14).
The tree of life yields twelve kinds of
fruit (22:2). Multiples of twelve are
important. The 144,000 servants of
God (7:4) are made of 12,000 from
each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Three as a symbolic number often
indicates completeness. Thus, the
Trinity is the complete God. Four is
often used as a sacred number.
Thus, one reads of the four living
creatures surrounding God (4:6-7).
God sends forth the four horsemen
of the Apocalypse (6:1-8) to bring
destruction to the earth.
