Echoes of the Noahic Covenant in Revelation 4

Seminary Commons

Scholars usually connect Revelation 4 and 5 with kingship to allude to the Davidic covenant. However, in this research, I will attempt to establish that there are striking echoes between Rev 4 and the Noahic covenant in Genesis 8–9. The Noahic covenant inaugurates a new beginning and Revelation 4 captures critical inaugural elements present in the Noahic covenant and allude to them in Revelation 4 with the purpose of pre-setting the stage for a new beginning in the inauguration of Jesus’ enthronement as King and Priest in Revelation 5. In other, words, this study will suggest that the function of the Noahic covenant in Revelation 4 is to stress the Inaugural event of Rev 5. John in Revelation 4 stresses inauguration by four echoes to the Noahic Covenant. Echo #1, the reference to the “rainbow” which is going to stand as the inaugural sign of the new beginning. Echo #2, the parallelism between “the cloud” in Gen 9:13–14 and “throne” in Revelation 4. This study will suggest that “cloud” parallels “throne” because “cloud” seems to be a technical word that refers to God’s throne when it descends to inaugurate an important event in salvation history. Echo #3, the phrase “every living creature” in Gen 9:8-11 highlights the new creation that is just been inaugurated in the Noahic covenant, and the reference to creation in Rev 4:11 highlights the inauguration of another new event; Jesus’ enthronement in Revelation 5. Echo #4, both inaugural events are preceded by “a scene of worship.” On one hand, Gen 8:20-22 describes Noah leading a pre-inauguration worship before inaugurating the new creation, on the other hand, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders also lead a pre-inauguration worship in Revelation 4 before inaugurating enthronement in Revelation 5. As Noah began his new life leading his family throughout their new beginning in the Noahic Covenant, Jesus as Priest and King leads his church throughout the difficult times of the seven seals and the seven trumpets in the book of Revelation. Nogueira, Lincoln Time in Revelation: Elements of Story-time and Discourse-time Compared This project compares John’s description of the events to take place in time and the sequence which he chose to present them. Story time refers to the events the author describes (the WHAT happens), while discourse time refers to the manner and order of such telling found in the penned words (the HOW is told). Although James Resseguie has produced a Narrative Commentary on the book of Revelation it does not fully demonstrate the temporal framework, especially matters concerning story time and discourse time. The following is explored: A timeline of the story time of Revelation; an analysis of key temporal markers in the book; and places of apparent recapitulation.