Does Revelation reveal to the readers that
there is indeed imagery and that that imagery requires interpretation?
Does the parable of the vineyard have anything
to do with Revelation?
What did the Jews look for in the Messiah?
Day 12
B. Hodge, Biblical Authority Ministries, May 29, 2020
Yes,
there is immense amounts of imagery: Revelation 1:12-20; 4:6; 5:5-13; 7:14;
9:7; 9:17; 12:3-4; 12:14-15; 13:11; 14:15; 16:13; 17:6-15; 19:15; 21:10,
21:16. Take note that interpretations
given were expected to settle any issues.
The
parable of the vineyard does indeed relate. Compare Matthew 21:33-45 with
Revelation 1:7 and Luke 19:41-44. According to Isaiah 5:1-16, Israel is the vineyard. Other parables may also hint at this such as
the culmination in Matthew 22:7 of the wedding banquet.
The
Jews were looking for a Messiah to be a powerful military leader to set up an
earthly kingdom. This is similar to Dispensational Pre-millennialism of today,
where the belief is that Christ will return and set up a military kingdom that
will conquer the world by sword, then, as some have stated, will be driven back
to Jerusalem for a final battle. In the dispensational understanding, Christ
was supposed to have been crowned king 2,000 years ago, but since the Jews
rejected him as king, then we are waiting for this to happen in the future.
After
Jesus miraculously fed five thousand, the Jews tried to take Jesus and make Him
their king. Jesus, knowing this, instead withdrew to the mountainside (John 6:14-15) and avoided them.
If
this were not enough, Jesus made it clear that His Kingdom was not meant to be
an earthly kingdom when He said to Pilate in John 18:36, “Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom
were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered
to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (NKJV).
Christ
is currently King and sitting on the Throne of God at the right hand of the
Father. All authority on heaven and earth
have already been given to Him upon the resurrection. Christ does not need to set up a kingdom on
earth again since He is currently the
King of Kings and has all authority in this world already (Matthew 28:18, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 19:16).
Read Revelation 18:25-20:10.
