British New Testament Society

Using a literary-theological, whole-text reading of Revelation, this paper traces one major antithetical theme right through the book. From the septet of oracles onwards, the first addressees and today's reader discover two rival groupings which progressively take shape and play out their respective parts in the plot: There are those, divinely sealed and protected, who faithfully follow the Lamb and belong to God (developed chiefly in the following scenes: 6.9-11; 7.12-19: 11.1-13; 14.1-5; 16.2-9; 20.3-15; 21.1-22.4); and they have negative counterparts, the earth-dwellers, branded with a rival mark, whose idolatrous allegiance goes in reality to the dragon and the monster. As the crucial juxtaposition of 13.1-18 and 14.1-5 shows most clearly, the latter are the distorted mirror-image of the former, for the contrasting activity, loyalties and ultimate fate of each faction are carefully paralleled throughout. In the new creation and consummated kingdom of the final vision, Revelation's denouement resolves the conflict when the Lamb's faithful followers - with whom the reader has had opportunity to identify - at last win through to their promised inheritance.

This paper looks at the interpretation of the millennium passage from Revelation in the writings of the seventeenth century Particular Baptists Robert Maton and Thomas Collier, tracing their readings in the light of their prevailing context, with the aim of exploring the relationship between context and interpretation. The seventeenth century saw the emergence of the British Baptist movement, which frequently stressed the right of individuals to read and interpret scripture for themselves. Baptist confessions asserted that the true meaning of the Bible was synonymous with what was perceived to be the plain meaning of the Bible. During the English civil wars, the turmoil of conflict provided the catalyst for various competing interpretations of the Bible, and those who offered a radical solution to the current situation often met with a favourable popular response. While many Baptists sought to disassociate themselves from extremist movements such as the Fifth Monarchists or the Levellers, nevertheless there were others who sought to interpret the millennium passage for their congregations.