Ch. 29 - The End of History

Understanding the Scriptures

In this lesson, Carson gives the historical context surrounding St. John's Apocalypse, which is also known as "Revelation" - the final book of the canon of Sacred Scripture. Its genre is "Apocalyptic" literature, which uses highly visual and symbolic metaphorical language to describe and reveal God's purposes and actions surrounding the events going on in the world around us. The Greek term Apocalypsis literally means "to unveil." The Book of Revelation is meant to be read as if it were written in the year 68 A.D. during the course of the Jewish-Roman War, which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and its central edifice: the Temple. Structured after both the Book of Daniel and the Eucharistic Liturgy of the early Christian Church, it reveals how this destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem is indeed the realization of divine judgment, the vindication of Christ and the Church, the end of the visible manifestation of the Old Covenant, and the appearance of God's kingdom foretold by Daniel in the form and ministry of the Church. In addition, we take a close look at Jesus' Olivet Discourse, which foretells the impending destruction of Jerusalem as well as the "signs" that will precede this horrible event. Indeed, these signs were fulfilled before the advent of the Roman soldiers and the ensuing war.