Theophany in Revelation

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Theophany in Revelation

• Vern Sheridan Poythress
• Westminster Theological Seminary

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Theophany Outline

• A. Gods control
• B. Gods glory
• C. The Lamb and the scroll

3
A. Theophany in General
4
Theophany as All-Encompassing
Theophany
Covenant

• See Samuel Terrien, The Elusive Presence

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Definition of Theophany

• More than one definition is possible.
• I want a broad definition.
• An encounter with divine presence accompanied by
  extraordinary manifestation or display mediating
  that presence.
• Include veiled or elusive manifestations.

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Theophany and Other Themes
God
speaking
ruling
communing
human beings
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Theophany and Covenant
God
speaking
ruling
communing
human beings
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Theophany in Spiritual Growth

• Know God as revealed in Rev.
• 2 Cor. 318 applies theophanic language to the
  heart of Christian experience.
• Growth in Christ is unbounded, Eph. 318-19.

theophany in Christ
transformation of believers in Christ
Inexhaustible.
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Theophany in Revelation
112-225 as a whole
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B. Rev. 112-20
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The Lampstands (112-13)

• Primary connections 120 (21).
• Significance Christ is in the midst of the
  churches.
• Secondary connections
• tabernacle, temple
• lights of heaven (stars in 120)
• disciples as light, Matt 514

12
Vision of Christ (112-16)

• Primary connections 1414 Dan. 713 79-10
  105-6 Ezek. 1.
• Significance Christ is divine judge and ruler,
  both for blessing and for curse.
• Secondary and tertiary connections OT
  theophanies.

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Judging as a Theme

• Judgment in Ezek. 1 and Dan. 79-10.
• From Rev. 1-3
• 118, keys of death
• 120, stars in the hand, with authority
• Rev. 2-3, warnings and commendations
• 28, 10, authority over death
• 218, eyes searching the heart
• 1414 101 1912,15 156 have judgment.

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C. Types of OT Theophanies
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Thunderstorm Theophanies

• Mt. Sinai as primary.
• Instances Exod. 19 Ps. 187-15 Zech 914-15
  Ps. 687-8(8-9) 1445-6 293-11 503 972-5
  Isa. 641-3 Zeph. 115-16.
• Features cloud, smoke, thunder, lightning, fire,
  maybe earthquake and wind.

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Chariot Theophanies

• Instances Isa. 6615 Hab. 38 Dan. 79-10 2
  Kings 211-12 617 Ps. 6817(18), 4(5), 33(34)
  Deut. 3326 Isa. 191 Ps. 6511.
• Poetic, context of judgment.
• God going to war.

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Court Theophanies

• Instances 1 Kings 2219-22 Isa. 61-5 Job 16
  21 Dan. 79-10 Ps. 82 895-14.
• With a Man in the center.
• Connected with chariot through 1 Chron. 2818,
  where chariot cherubim (court ministers).

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Individual Man Theophanies

• Instances Judg. 136-22 Gen. 18 Dan. 105
  Rev. 101(?) Acts 93-7 Dan. 713 Rev. 1911
  etc.
• Second type of Man theophany.
• Some are preincarnate appearances of Christ.

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Warrior Theophanies

• Instances Zech. 914-15 143-5 Hab. 33-15
  Isa. 631-6 5917-19 Zeph. 317 Josh. 513-15.
• A third type of Man theophany.

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Glory Theophanies

• Instances Isa. 601-2 Mal. 42 Ps. 801, 3, 7,
  19 941.
• Connected with thunderstorm and temple
  theophanies.

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Fire Theophanies

• Exod. 31-6 Gen. 1517 Exod. 1321 1419, 24
  Num. 915-23 Acts 21-3
• Connected with thunderstorm and glory theophanies

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Temple/cloud Theophanies

• Instances Exod. 4034-38 Num. 915-23 Deut.
  432-36 1 Kings 810-11 Ezek. 84 103-4,
  18-19 432-7 444.
• Connected with dedication of the tabernacle or
  temple, or speech from the temple.

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Creation as Theophany

• Instances Gen. 12 Ps. 1041-4 931-2
  10225-26. Building Job 384-11 Prov. 827-31
  Amos 95-6.
• Connected with temple theophanies, Ps. 7869
  935 114-5.

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Summary of OT Theophany

• Diverse, showing richness.
• Interrelated, showing unity and mystery.
• Classifiable up to a point.

Showing Gods wisdom.
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D. Imaging in Theophanies
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Angels Image God
24 elders

• 24 thrones image one throne (Rev. 44).

• Angels are sons of God (Job 16 21).
• They execute Gods decrees (Isa. 66-7 Ezek.
  94 102 Ps. 10320-21).

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3 Layers in Ezekiel 1
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Fire Imaging in Ezekiel 1
Fire
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Imaging in Ezekiel 1
Voice
Bronze

• 14 93-4
• 17 124
• 127 82? 125,28

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Inner Meaning ofMan Theophany
Cloud
Chariot
Man
deep
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Attributes in Human Form

• Eyes
• Ears
• Arm
• Hand
• Feet
• Face
• Nostrils
• Mouth

• Knowledge, Prov. 153 2 Chron. 169 Ps. 8014
  Jer. 3219 Ps. 114.
• Answering prayer, Ps. 3415.
• Power, Luke 151 Ps. 443.
• Care, Isa. 492 Ezek. 81 371.
• Dominion, Isa. 6013 633.
• Presence, Exod. 339-11, 18-23.
• Wrath, Ps. 1815, 8.
• Articulate speech.

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Attributes and Spirit

• Ps. 1397 5111 Ezek. 3929
• Rev. 56 14-5.
• Ezek. 81 vs. 115.
• Luke 1120 vs. Matt. 1228 2 Cor. 33.
• Ps. 1815 Ezek. 37 (Ps. 1043)
• Luke 135.
• Exod. 1424 156, 8, 12 Isa. 6310-14.

• Face
• Eyes
• Hand
• Finger
• Breath
• Power
• Many

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Attributes and Trinity
Individual attributes
Whole human figure
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E. Imaging and Spatial Structure
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Kingship Reflected
God
other people
36
Presence Reflected
God indwelling
angelic court
heaven and earth
44
114
513
image
kingdom/ temple
you
church
112-13
320
1119
37
7 Cycles Follow Reflection
7 angels in court
God Lamb
cosmic theater
church false church
temple
38
Final Reflection New Jerusalem
3
1
2
7 angels in court
cosmic theater
God Lamb
7
6
God man
reigning saints
5
4
last Adam
church false church
temple
39
Completed Reflection
God indwelling
angelic court
heaven and earth
221
2123
2112
you
church
kingdom
2116
112-13
224
40
Beauty Reflected
angelic court
heaven and earth
God
Rev. 43 splendor
Rev. 2119-21
Ezek. 116
you
church
kingdom
Rev. 2119-21
Exod. 2815-21
Isa. 6110 623
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G. Lessons from Theophany
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God Centered Universe
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Gods Glory in History
Unstoppable.
spread of glory
44
Gods Glory Copied
man-centered thinking
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Gods Glory Reflected
light
46
Gods Glory Now

• In creation, 411

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Gods Mystery Reflected in Symbols
Gods Trinitarian nature
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Evangelism from Theophany

• Don Richardson, Peace Child, illustrates the
  challenges.
• You may start from general revelation water,
  trees, the sun, marriage, power (kingship).

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Worship from Theophany
Seeing God in majesty
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H. The Lamb and the Scroll
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Gods Scroll

• Heavenly books contain Gods plans, Dan. 1021
  124, 9 (826)

Heavenly scene
Universal context
Who can bring Gods plan to realization?
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The Lambs Ability (55-6)