Breaking the Code
Introduction
In his book “Breaking the Code” Bruce Metzger briefly gives a clear theological understanding of the book of Revelation. Bruce's hermeneutical skills are not confusing or difficult to understand. Bruce's careful approach to every text in the Book of Revelation is commendable. There is no room for speculation or wrong interpretation of the text. Some portions of the Revelation book are expounded well by Bruce, leaving the reader with strong historical information and personal conviction with victorious hope in Christ. However, the reader should not expect to see this book as some sort of theologically rich commentary on the apocalyptic prophetic literature of Revelation.
Summary of the Two Controversial Passages - Revelation 12 & 20
Revelation 12: Bruce begins his interpretation of Revelation 12 by mentioning this chapter as a flashback because it speaks about the birth of the Messiah and the attempt of King Herod to kill Jesus soon after he was born. Bruce calls this whole episode in Revelation 12 the most bizarre chapter in the whole book. For that reason, Bruce carefully explains that the “woman” in Rev 12:1 is understood by some as the "Virgin Mary" and by others as the "Christian Church." According to Bruce, John probably intended this verse to mean a personification of the ideal community of God’s people first in a Jewish form, in which Mary gave birth to Jesus the Messiah and then in its Christian form, in which it was persecuted by political power as evil as the dragon (12:6). Then Bruce moves on to expound Rev 12:3-6. According to Bruce's interpretation, it is quite clear that the dragon represents Satan, and the child here is Christ. Bruce explains that John describes this child as the one who will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psalms 2:9).
Bruce further explains that the Dragon’s eagerness to devour the child explains the violent opposition that Jesus met during his earthly ministry. Started first with the killing of the babies in Bethlehem (Matt 2:16) and ended with the brutal crucifixion of Jesus Christ outside Jerusalem.
Bruce also highlights that Satan’s purpose, however, is thwarted and the child is “snatched away and taken to God and his throne” (12:5). According to Bruce's interpretation, this is a reference to Jesus’ accession. Bruce also highlights the Dragon war with Michael and his angels (12:7-9) where Michael's Angel defeats the dragon (12:10-12). According to Bruce, this scene should be taken symbolically because Michael's victory represents the real victory won by the atoning death of Christ and by the preaching of the Gospel. Then, Bruce goes on to explain the furious wrath of the dragon on the other children of the woman (12:17) is on the Christians who obey God and bear testimony to Jesus. With that, Bruce skips his comments on “1260 days” (12:6), “woman with two wings” (12:14), and “the serpent who poured out water like a river” (12:15).
Revelation 20: Bruce explains that the Apostle John in Revelation 20 turns to the ultimate enemy who deceives the Nations. Bruce Metzger identifies this enemy by four sinister names: the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, or Satan. Then from Rev 20:1-10, we note the “binding, releasing and deception of Satan” with its two mysterious figures, “Gog, and Magog,” as his obedient tools, and “Satan’s final defeat.”
According to Bruce the defeat of the enemy highlighted in 20:9 is finally the complete and absolute end of the Satanic age. But Bruce does not give any depth of details on the binding and releasing of Satan. However, Bruce is sure that we will not be able to identify Gog and Magog. Bruce explains that it will be altogether misguided ingenuity to attempt to identify specific nations that are innumerable (20:8). Bruce continues his interpretation by expounding the “vision of white throne” in 20:11 as God’s eternal purity.
Then Bruce explains the “Book of Merit” as the deeds of each one who stands before the throne of God. With that, Bruce explains that “Another Book of Life” belongs to the lamb (21:27) and should be understood as the book of mercy. On the other hand, Bruce explains the giving up of the “dead by the sea and by death and hades” signifies that all the dead are raised and brought to justice.
According to Bruce, finally, the two great enemies of humankind “death” and “hades” which are here personified are destroyed after giving up the dead that was in them (20:13) and anyone's name that was not found in the book of life was thrown into the “lake of fire” (20:15). Bruce interprets “thrown into the lake of fire” as the second death (20:14) which is absolute unmitigated death as final and complete separation from God, the source of life.
Evaluation of The Book
Bruce Metzger strongly coveys that we must see the book of Revelation symbolically. He strongly says that it is important to recognize the description is the description of symbols, not the reality conveyed by the symbol. Bruce wants his audience to understand the book of Revelation uniquely in a disciplined imaginative way because it contains a series of word pictures that should not be interpreted with the wooden literalism method. Somehow, Bruce's strong opinion against the wooden literalism method critically challenges the biblical scholars who take some episodes of the Revelation quite literally. Therefore, strongly disarming the wooden literalism method for Revelation without highlighting any controversial passages with errors is not at all helpful.
On the other hand, it would have been very helpful if Bruce could have briefly dedicated one chapter at the beginning of his book to the history of Biblical interpretation which has four major ways of interpreting the text: literal, moral, allegorical, and analogical. A few Biblical examples of interpreting the text from these four major different hermeneutics rules would somehow equip a Christian layperson to use certain expositional skills to interpret any text in the biblical scriptures carefully. Most importantly it would be helpful for a layperson to see and understand the Apocalyptic literature of Revelation through the proper hermeneutical lens. However, it is still helpful and clear to understand Bruce's Symbolic approach to Revelation.
His explanation of the visionary experience from Ezekiel's vision of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37 and Peter’s vision of a large sheet in Acts 10:11 is very helpful. Both accounts reveal purely symbolic meanings (revival of the dead nation Israel and no more restrictions on food and there is no longer any distinction between the Jews and Gentiles) and it equips the readers to see some episodes and text of scriptures symbolically. Similarly, Bruce attempts to explain that there is no literal interpretation even for the beast rising out of the sea mentioned in Revelation 13:1. Convinces his readers to uniquely see the need to symbolically approach the texts in Revelation.
Bruce Metzger's contribution towards the authorship of John, the time of writing Revelation in A.D 90-95 with the evidence of early church fathers like Irenaeus (A.D 180) and Alexandria (A.D 200) is commendable. His rich research on the Historical background of the seven cities is also extremely applaudable. Out of all the historical and spiritual details on five cities (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis), Bruce's historical information on the church of Philadelphia and Laodicea is very helpful.
First the "Church of Philadelphia" can be seen as a great source of encouragement for the readers because according to Bruce, the Church of Philadelphia was a poor, small, and harassed church by both pagan citizens and the local synagogue. But still, this church did not stray. Instead, they kept the word of God with patient endurance Rev 3:7-13. Therefore, the testimony of Philadelphia Church can be a great encouragement for many suffering churches. Secondly, on the other hand, the deteriorating spiritual condition of the "Laodicean Church" in the 90s because of their lukewarmness highlighted by Bruce Metzger can serve as a warning for both individual believers and the Christian church community who may have lost their first love and zeal for Christ.
It is also important to highlight that Bruce's interpretation of certain important subjects or texts in Revelation is almost missing. We do not see Bruce addressing certain complicated texts like “Binding of the Satan” in Revelation 20:2-3. Biblically we can understand what this text may mean. But Bruce simply concludes that "one day God will come and destroy the power of the enemy and establish his kingdom." We have had to then, turn to other biblical texts to help us understand more about what Bruce missed out on.
In the four gospels, we find some episodes where we see the kingdom of God progressively destroying the strongholds of the enemy (Luke 10:18-19, Mark 9:25-27, Luke 13:10-13, Mark 5:1-20). We note that after Jesus' triumphal victory on the cross, Satanic powers and authorities were also disarmed (Colossian 2:15). These passages help me to understand, that Satan has been defeated eternally but his defeat has not put a limit to his dark powers until Parousia. Because Satan's powers are still at work almost everywhere. We can understand this from 1 Peter 5:8 "The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Believers should also know that they can resist Satan’s evil powers (James 4:7). But one must understand the biblical principles of spiritual engagements against the enemy. So, in this biblical context, Bruce could have given his position on the complicated subject of “Binding of the Satan” (Rev 20:2-3). However, he skips many biblical details on this subject. On the other hand, Bruce Metzger doesn’t give any detailed analysis of the “New Heaven” and “New Earth” (Rev 21:1). Bruce could have taken some references from the book of Isaiah 65:17-25 to explain it like “eternal rewards"(it may be biblically hard to interpret it), “lake of fire” 20:15 and “I will spit you out of my mouth” 3:16 (what would this mean?). Bruce also excludes the famous old-school thought of Postmillennial, Premillennial, and Amillennial in depth. His explanation of these three views is shallow. It may be presumptuous to mention that Bruce intentionally avoids the detailed analysis of these texts. He may not want to make speculations on these texts. So, he avoids a more committed interpretation because there is not any firm assurance as to the exact meaning of these passages.
So, Bruce's cautious interpretation of each text of Revelation can be commended as the strength of his book. Each expounded chapter or text leaves no room for the reader to conclude Bruce's interpretation as heretical. One may differ from his interpretational skill or perspective, however, from the biblical point of view, there is no reason how we can condemn his interpretation of any text.
How to Approach the Book of Revelation in the Contemporary Christian Living
Contemporary Christians should see the book of Revelation through lenses that Bruce highlights in his book. The Church should learn to interpret most of the text in Revelation Symbolically. Imagery and bizarre pictures highlighted in this Apocalyptic literature should not be taken literally. According to Bruce, Revelation readers must avoid the wooden literalism approach. Therefore, for contemporary Christians, this is one of the most important feedbacks to approach the book of Revelation. On the other hand, it is also important for the contemporary Christian World to stop ignoring their studies on the book of Revelation.
It is hoped that Christians will hear the book of Revelation being preached from the pulpit. Often, most people are overwhelmed by the bizarre imagery highlighted in the book and therefore, do not know how to begin attempts at interpreting it. Many will not have the right biblical hermeneutical tools to exegete the text too. Therefore, for that reason among others, they hold themselves back from reading it. While it is good to be cautious one must not remain uninformed about the richness which can be gained from the book. Christians in this modern theological era can easily look up good theological resources. Bruce Metzger’s book on Revelation is a good start for a general overview of understanding Revelation.
On the other side of the divide, preachers and teachers ought not to be overconfident when they handle the book. They must be sensitive and vigilant as they approach the difficult interpretive parts. Efforts to explain Revelations must not be seen as authoritative when understating the critical texts in Revelation. The danger is in teaching vain imaginations and this may mislead. Like Bruce Metzger, every teacher of the Word needs to learn to lean on a biblical approach towards such a complicated text as the book of Revelation.
The book of Revelation should also not be seen as daunting or frightening. Over the years, many Christians have been proven to have come to wrong conclusions and have led many astray. If we employ the right hermeneutical skills, we will then be able to sharpen our focus towards the finale of the glorious return of Christ in the New Heaven and New Earth. Contemporary Christians can then see the book of Revelation as a victorious book.
Conclusion
Bruce Metzger's interpretative method of exercising wisdom to avoid the wrong exegesis of the text is commendable. His method for “Breaking the Code” is both useful and recommendable as a tool for initial understanding of the book of Revelation. The glaring weakness of Metzger’s method is that the book lacks biblical weight in certain texts. The book avoids exploring different interpretative methods to interpret Revelation and thus, generally leaves readers without information on the different scholarly views on the book of Revelation. So, it is conclusive to say that Bruce's book says only enough to what one’s appetite to pursue studying the book of Revelation, but does not adequately cover specific mainstream arguments of the book
