The Apocalypse oF John
Discussion Questions

Give the exact verse references from Revelation to support each of your answers.
  1. What are the basic facts we know about the Book of Revelation?
    1. date
    2. provenance
    3. author
    4. audience
    5. aim
  2. Why does the author entitle this book the Apocalypse or Revelation (nom. SINGULAR), rather than the Apocalypses or Revelations?
  3. Often people try to read the images in the Book of Revelation as if they are "code language" for specific things or persons, with a one-to-one equivalence.
    1. Why is such a mono-valent reading inappropriate for images in an apocalyptic work?
    2. In contrast, what does a multi-valent reading of the images do?
  4. How is the apocalyptic character of the book of Revelation conveyed by the various images used in it? E.g.,
    1. What are the various realities that the Beast represents?
    2. What about the image of the Beast making war against the Divine Warrior. How does this illustrate the apocalyptic character of the book of Revelation?
    3. What or who is/are the rider(s) of the white horse(s)?
    4. What is the significance of the two scrolls? How does this literary device illustrate the apocalyptic character of the book of Revelation?
    5. How does the image of the Lamb function in this book?
  5. How would you describe the Christology of the Apocalypse?