Edyth Armstrong Hoyt, in her book Studies in the Apocalypse of John of Patmos states that “John is
not describing a literal day of judgment.
He is recording the steps of spiritual growth and victory, wherein light
and understanding dispel darkness and negative types of thinking.”
She also makes clear that she is not interpreting the book
but rather translating or decoding
it; and she offers a description of the structure
as follows:
1.0
Introduction/Author’s Preface – Chapter 1
a.
Verses 1 – 3 what the revelation is
b.
Verses 4 – 8 how it blesses
c.
Verses 9 – 20 proofs that John is worthy to give
the Revelation.
1.1 Prologue – Chapters 2 and 3 – seven messages to seven churches
2.
Body of the Revelation – seven visions in seven
parts each – Chapter 4 – 22:5
2.0
Conclusion/Epilogue – Chapter 22: 6-17 – seven
“last” words
2.1 Benediction – Chapter 22: 18 – 20 – three closing statements
Note that apocalyptic writers use numbers as a literary device to express completeness; there is no
connection to mysticism. So, we see the
numbers one, three, four, seven and twelve and their multiples are used to represent
completeness, with twelve being the highest.
Thus, scholars generally, writes Hoyt, assume the following:
·
One is used for One Deity
·
Three for heaven, earth, and sea
·
Four for the four sides of the Tabernacle of
Moses
·
Seven for the Sabbath or pause in the moon
development every seven days
·
Twelve for the twelve tribes of Israel.
How interesting this is.
Julie Swannell
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