John’s Visionary Experience as an Interpretive Key to the Book of Revelation

Abstract

The author asserts that prophetic visionary experience is the primary and sole method of disclosure in the Apocalypse and has crucial relevance for New Testament studies. He argues that John’s visionary state was an altered state of consciousness with stream of consciousness affinities. This sheds invaluable light on Revelation in eight significant areas: 1) the fluid past/present/future shifting of tenses, 2) the fluid spatial dimension found in Revelation, 3) the ability to see into the invisible spirit realm, 4) an enhanced auditory or hearing component in the series of visions, 5) a greatly enhanced emotional intensity, 6) a distinct transport in the Spirit component, 7) pronounced interaction between John, the four Living Beings, the angels, the 24 Elders, the glorified saints in heaven, Jesus, and God the Father, and 8) an increased awareness of God’s glory and majesty in the context of the heavenly worship.