"Don't wake me for the end of the world unless it has very good special effects."
- Roger Zelazny -
Revelation's "Hear/See" Paradigm: Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3
I have found the "Hear/See" pattern to be one of several important "Keys to Unlocking Revelation."
In the first installment of this series,
we introduced the "Hear/See" pattern, a paradigm that appears a number of times in the pages of the book of Revelation. We directed your attention to what is perhaps the clearest, most unequivocal example of that pattern, a short passage in which John the Apostle is told (Hear-audible-) that the Lion of Judah has conquered. When he then looks to see this Lion (See-visible-), his gaze falls upon a Lamb.
In this article, we'll take a look at a second very clear example of the pattern.
Keys to Understanding Revelation
Image courtesy of Arek Socha and http://pixabay.com
Have you heard of "The Bride of Christ?"
If you're not completely new to bible study, I suspect that you have, and so I won't go into extensive proofs that the church, i.e. Jesus' redeemed people, is spoken of in scripture as his bride.
"Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal."
- Revelation 21:9-11
Once again, we have the "Hear/See" pattern in action.
Hear a description...
Image courtesy of Ilona and http://pixabay.com
Notice what John hears:
“Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
Hearing that, what would you expect to see?
See what was described...
Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann and http://pixabay.com
Wouldn't you expect to see a bride?
A woman, dressed in white, ready for her wedding?
A bride...
Image courtesy of photo-nic.co.uk nic and http://unsplash.com
Imagine yourself in John's place.
You're told by the messenger that you are about to see the Lamb's bride.
Now you turn, and what do you see?
You see a city.
A city...
Image courtesy of Jonathan Roger and http://unsplash.com
You see a city, not a bride.
The City of God is widely accepted by students of scripture as another metaphor for God's people. We, as God's people, are spoken of as living stones, construction material for his city.The truth is, the bride and the city are one and the same.
This is the Hear/See pattern again.
A Lion and a Lamb. A Bride and a City. In each case, not different things - merely different ways of looking at the same thing.
The pattern occurs, again and again, throughout the book of Revelation. John first hears descriptions and then sees what was described. And what he hears and sees are the same, though symbolically described in radically different ways.
Keys to Understanding Revelation
Image courtesy of mastersenaiper and http://pixabay.com
I hope you're getting excited.
By observing the clearest examples of this pattern in Revelation, you can begin to understanding that what John heard and what he subsequently saw are the same thing. Then you will be able to cut through the confusion brought about by all too many careless bible teachers in dealing with other, less agreed upon passages where the "Hear/See" pattern occurs.
Join us next time,
when we'll uncover another example of the "Hear/See" pattern. I think we may cut to the chase and expose the truth about one of the most widely misunderstood passages in the book of revelation.
~FIN~
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Beautiful writeup. It has been a long time I've been on your page. And I had no idea you write Christian posts.
A very good read.
But then, if we are to look at the Bible, we can see that it is in the book of revelation that this "hear/see" pattern is used all too easily making it very hard to comprehend.
I do hope you are able to make other wonderful analysis again. I'll do well to stop by
Thanks for your visit and comments.
Visit my library to see many, many Christian posts! ;)
I won't fail to.
Excellent your exemplification of the see / hear pattern, in the book of the Apocalypse. It is how God explained to John how strong and powerful the Messiah became after he ascended into heaven and at the same time made him understand that it was the lamb that died for him. In these scenarios the book of Revelation moves in analogies that highlight the signs of the Most High. You know @creart, you can draw a theological theory from this study. Congratulations, and thank you for inviting us to know more deeply the word of God.
Thank you, @yose, for your thoughtful comment.
Back in your lane, I see. I'm glad, @creatr :)
Not sure I fit in any particular lane... Actually, pretty sure I don't... but this is an important topic! ;)
Nice. The Book of Revelations can be so confusing and controversial.
Yes, it can.
I'm hoping to write up a complete series on the book of keys to understanding that I have found ever so helpful.
It is exciting to follow step by step with the description of the revelations that the apostle John gives us in his book of the Apocalypse. Receive my affections @creatr
You taught me something new tonight. Thanks @creatr.
I'm glad! :)
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