A Metaphorical Example - Revelations 12

 

A Metaphorical Example - Revelations 12

Revelations is a book full of metaphorical language.

An example is in Revelations 12:12-14

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 

14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.


My question: Can it be that the apostle John, who wrote Revelations, would suddenly used literal language, after their people had been using prophetic, apocalyptic, and metaphorical language for thousands of years? Would John suddenly change their ancient and cultural way of writing and thinking?

My 2nd question: Can it be that Jesus, also coming from the same historical and cultural background as John, suddenly used literal language instead of metaphorical language? Thereby causing miscommunication and confusion to His listeners and disciples?

My answer to these questions: Of course, definitely and conclusively NOT!


The book of Revelation was spoken to the Jews to THEIR generation, to THEIR culture, with THEIR understanding. This book has more than 400 references to Hebrew scriptures to prove that it was about the Jews.


There is plenty of evidence to show that the book of Revelations was written before the fall of Jerusalem in AD70. It was written to predict its coming catastrophe. And the purpose of this book, was to warn them before the Great Fall of Jerusalem.

In that Day of Judgement on Jerusalem, their earthly Israel kingdom (the Mosaic and Law system) will be removed, and Jesus will usher in the eternal spiritual kingdom as was promised by Daniel to the Jews.


Revelations was a book about warning them to flee from the destruction that is coming from the Roman invasion on Jerusalem in AD70. Jesus told them not to be caught in the fires of Gehenna (literally the Valley of Hinnom) where the fires will burn their bodies for months after the city of Jerusalem is burnt to the ground.

That was the end of the Old Covenant, the end of the Age of the Mosaic Law system, and the end of the city of Jerusalem as the central place of worship of God. This was exactly what happened according to history.

The writings of the New Testament reveals the same apocalyptic and metaphorical language that is meant to turn the hearts of the Jewish audience from the coming destruction of Jerusalem that the Roman empire will bring to their nation.

It was meant to show the foolishness of their sins and ways, the futility of their religious system, and to point them to the certainty of God's kingdom through Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

If you can understand this from a metaphorical perspective / viewpoint, then literally hundred of bible verses will open up to you and you will see God wasn't in the business of destroying the heavens and earth, but leading us to change our minds and trust in the spiritual kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.

A Metaphorical Example - Isaiah 13

 

A Metaphorical Example - Isaiah 13

Isaiah 13:6-10 reads:

6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand!
It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore all hands will be limp,
Every man’s heart will melt,

8 And they will be afraid.
Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them;
They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth;
They will be amazed at one another;
Their faces will be like flames.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes,
Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,
To lay the land desolate;
And He will destroy its sinners from it.

10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations
Will not give their light;
The sun will be darkened in its going forth,
And the moon will not cause its light to shine.

Did every man's heart physically melt? NO.!

This is metaphorical and exaggerated language to describe an imaginary picture of their hearts melting so that it will cause the people to wake up and come to their senses. 

The prophet Isaiah wanted to awaken and shake them up!

These writings describe a literal and physical event that actually happened as shown in the past history.

Qn: How to interpret this?

An: Look at the Context in Isaiah 13:1.

Isaiah 13:1 "The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw." 

This was a prophecy predicted by Isaiah about the fall of Babylon in 689 BC! 

When the prophets used the language of sun, moon and stars, it referred to the governmental powers of their times. It meant kings, queens, governors, and leaders would fall from power. 

God did not literally come out of clouds, darken the sun, nor cause the moon to cease its light.

He can (because He is God). But he didn't.


According to ancient Assyrian historical writings:

Notice how King Sennacherib (King of Assyria) uses his language to describe his victory over Babylon:

 “I made its destruction more complete than by a flood. That in days to come the site of that city, and (its) temples and gods, might not be remembered, I completely blotted it out with (floods) of water and made it like a meadow” 

(Daniel D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, 1926-1927, Vol. 2, p. 152).

This is a Metaphorical Example.

A Metaphorical Example - Psalms 18

 

A Metaphorical Example - Psalms 18

What is metaphorical?

Metaphorical means you use something else to stand for, or symbolize, another thing.

For example, in a poem, "a dark sky" might be a metaphorical representation of sadness.

Let us look at Psalm 18, which is a Psalm of David.

Psalm 18:7-17 reads:

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.

8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.

10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.

12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.

14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.



Wow!! : Smoke from His nose, and fire from His mouth!!

Did it really happen? NO.!

Do you know what really happened?

Well, before you read into Psalms 18, it is written in the beginning of the Psalm "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." 

This Psalm is a song recounting how God delivered David from the hand of Saul and his armies (see 2 Samuel 22).

The earth didn't quake.

The oceans didn't break open and expose the channels of the sea.

God simply delivered David in a battle.

It was a very natural event but written in an exaggerated and metaphorical language to make a strong point.

This is called a Metaphorical Example.