The definition of an apocalypse proposed by John J. Collins has been widely accepted: “‘Apocalypse’ is a genre of revelatory literature with a narrative framework, in which a revelation is mediated by an otherworldly being to a human recipient, disclosing a transcendent reality which is both temporal, insofar as it envisages eschatological salvation, and spatial insofar as it involves another, supernatural world” (J. J. Collins, “Morphology of a Genre,” 9). This was later helpfully revised to include a statement of function: “intended to interpret present, earthly circumstances in light of the supernatural world and of the future, and to influence both the understanding and the behavior of the audience by means of divine authority” (A. Y. Collins, “Early Christian Apocalypticism,” 7). This definition of the apocalyptic genre matches Revelation quite well and would suggest that Revelation is an apocalypse. Revelation, however, played an important role in the scholarly formulation of the definition, and the line between prophecy and apocalypse is notoriously blurry. Revelation is also introduced as a letter. Different scholars place different emphases on each of these three generic identifications, but most interpreters realize that Revelation is a mixed genre with similarities to other apocalypses, prophecies, and letters.
Genre identification greatly impacts interpretation. Comparison with other apocalypses leads a reader to expect Revelation to include a claim to divine authority for a revelation of heavenly realities through heavily symbolic visions in a narrative framework intended to instruct and motivate hearers. Comparison of John’s use of symbols with other Jewish and Christian apocalypses often sheds light on John’s intended meaning.
Seeing Revelation as a prophecy highlights the motivational element of the text in how it calls God’s people to repentance and perseverance through warnings of judgment and promises of salvation. It also alerts readers to the way that John explicitly sought to model his message on the Hebrew writing prophets. Many of his visions become clear when seen as parallel to or as specific interpretations of visions in prior biblical prophecy.
Revelation’s epistolary framework stresses the interpretive importance of John’s original historical and sociological context. Revelation was written by a specific individual to other specific individuals about specific issues at a specific time and specific place. This historical context matters for evaluating proposed interpretations, and greater weight should be given to interpretations that would have been intelligible and meaningful to Christians at the end of the first century.
For more on Revelation with Alex Stewart, listen to the third season of The Study Podcast!
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