Tag Archives: recapitulation

RECAPITULATION IN REVELATION (Part 2)

Revelation March 5, 2014 Comments: 10

RecapitulationPMT 2014-028 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last blog article (PMT 2014-027) I began answering a reader’s question seeking evidence for recapitulation in Revelation. In the last article I explained the question before us. In this one I will resolve that question.

We may discern strong thematic evidence of Revelation’s cyclical movement in its several passages that appear to be world-ending (earth-shaking, sky-falling catastrophes) or others that appear to signal the return of Christ long before Revelation’s conclusion. For instance, if taken literally, the sixth seal’s judgment is a universal, history-ending catastrophe: the sun darkens, the stars fall, the sky is split, and every mountain is shaken (6:12–17). Yet Revelation continues for another fourteen chapters, presenting more judgments before presenting its glorious outcome (Revelation 21–22). Continue reading →

RECAPITULATION IN REVELATION (Part 1)

Revelation March 3, 2014 Comments: 12

SpiralPMT 2014-027 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

A reader has written asking for evidence that Revelation follows a recapitulation scheme instead of a linear progression scheme. This is a good question, one that I think might be interesting to my PostmillennialismToday readers. I will engage this question over the course of two blog articles. In this article I will set up the problem. In the next one I will resolve it. Let’s get started!

This is an important good question, for a major challenge facing Revelation interpreters is the nature of Revelation’s progress. Does Revelation’s plot-line unfold in terms of linear progression? That is, does John prophesy events that will occur in a generally straightforward, continuously chronological progression from Revelation 4 through 22 (while allowing for a few interludes or back-flashes)? Charles (Revelation, 1: xxiii) insists that “the events in these seven parts are described in visions in strict chronological order, save in the case of certain proleptic visions . . . thus there is no need to resort to the theory of Recapitulation.” Continue reading →